Weekend Preview: Islanders Face Amerks, Marlies
Mar 28, 2025
THE STORY COMING IN
The Bridgeport Islanders (14-42-4-3) face a pair of North Division teams this weekend, hitting the road for their only trips of the season to Rochester and Toronto. The Islanders meet the Rochester Americans (37-18-3-3) at 7:05 p.m. tonight before tangling with the Toronto Marlies (32-20-3-6) at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Bridgeport is looking coming off a 4-1 loss to the Hershey Bears on Wednesday night, despite Cole Bardreau’s shorthanded strike late in the second period. Brian Pinho and Travis Mitchell each logged an assist, while Henrik Tikkanen (6-17-3) made 26 saves on 29 shots in his fourth straight appearance.
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ISLANDERS VS. AMERKS
Tonight’s game is the second of two meetings between the Islanders and Amerks this season, and their only matchup in New York. Liam Foudy and Alex Jefferies scored two of Bridgeport’s three goals in a 6-3 loss at Total Mortgage Arena in their first meeting on Jan. 4. Bridgeport went 1-0-0-1 against the Americans last year, including a 4-3 overtime win in their 2023-24 season opener - their most recent trip to Blue Cross Arena 532 days ago. Rochester is second in the North Division with 80 points in 61 games, six points behind the Laval Rocket. AHL All-Star goaltender Devon Levi has won 21 of his 34 appearances this season and ranks fifth among all League netminders with a 2.27 GAA.
ISLANDERS VS. MARLIES
Sunday’s game marks the second of two meetings between the Islanders and Marlies this season, and the only matchup at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Toronto earned a 3-2 overtime win in their first meeting on Mar. 8 in Bridgeport, despite Adam Beckman, Chris Terry, and Sam Bolduc all recording one goal and one assist. However, Bridgeport has points in seven straight games dating back to Jan. 21, 2018 (5-0-2-0). The Marlies enter the weekend in third place in the North Division standings with 73 points in 61 games. They are led in scoring by AHL All-Star forward Alex Steeves, who ranks second in the League in goals (34) and tied for 10th in points (53).
TWO MORE DEBUTS
Three days after Sacred Heart University product Max Dorrington made his professional debut Sunday afternoon, two more players took the ice for the first time on Wednesday. Foward Gleb Veremyev made his professional debut following three seasons at Colorado College, and New York Islanders’ second-round draft pick in 2024, Jesse Pulkkinen, made his AHL debut after coming over from JYP (Liiga). All three players are looking to record their first AHL points.
TERRY TRACKER
Chris Terry is expected to return to the lineup this weekend after missing Wednesdsay’s game due to personal reasons... Terry has 11 points (3g, 8a) in his last nine games, including his 800th career AHL point last Saturday... He is fourth in the AHL’s scoring race this season (59 points), tied for fifth in power-play points (24), and ranks fifth in assists (40)... He is five points from tying Jeremy Colliton’s franchise scoring record (203).
QUICK HITS
Cam Thiesing, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Wednesday, has three goals in his last nine games... Former Bridgeport forward Mason Jobst had two goals for Rochester in their first meeting on Jan. 4... The Islanders are 2-9-1-0 against North Division team this season.
AFFILIATES
New York Islanders (32-29-10): Last: 5-2 L vs. VAN, Wednesday -- Next: Saturday at TBL, 2 p.m. ET
Worcester Railers (31-27-2-4): Last: 5-4 W vs. TR, last Sunday -- Next: Tonight at TR, 7 p.m. ET