Preview: Islanders at Rocket
Mar 15, 2024
THE STORY COMING IN
The Bridgeport Islanders (20-31-6-1) continue a five-game road trip with a 7 p.m. rematch against the Laval Rocket (26-24-6-2) tonight, looking to get back on track following a 5-1 loss on Wednesday. It snapped Bridgeport’s three-game winning streak on the road and was the club’s first regulation loss in Laval since Nov. 16, 2019. Julien Gauthier scored a power-play goal at 11:09 of the second period, while Ken Appleby (7-9-0) and Henrik Tikkanen (no decision) both saw action in net. Bridgeport remains 10 points out of a playoff spot with 14 games to go, directly trailing both Springfield and Lehigh Valley, who are tied for sixth in the Atlantic Division.
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ISLANDERS VS. ROCKET
Tonight’s game is the fourth and final meeting between the Islanders and Rocket this season, and the second of two in Quebec. Bridgeport is 1-2-0-0 against the Montreal Canadiens’ affiliate after a two-game split at home last month and last night’s 5-1 loss. Matt Maggio has a team-leading two goals in three games against the Rocket this season.
VIEW FROM LAVAL
The Rocket have won three straight games and are 3-0-1-0 in their last four, climbing to within one point of a playoff spot. Laval is sixth in the North Division, one point behind Toronto, with 14 games left. Brandon Gignac and Olivier Galipeau each scored once and added an assist in Laval’s 5-1 victory on Wednesday night, while Jakub Dobes (18-13-6) made 26 saves. Gignac, who leads Laval with 52 points (17g, 35a) in 52 games, is on a red-hot run with three straight multi-point games (3g, 6a). He has one goal in each of those and is tied for fifth in the AHL’s scoring race. Laval completes a three-game homestand tonight.
HOME GROWN
Four players on the Islanders’ roster were born in Quebec, and all four started Wednesday’s game at Place Bell. Sam Asselin, William Dufour, Julien Gauthier, and Vincent Sevigny are from the Canadian province where the Islanders will play again tonight. Gauthier, a native of Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que., scored Bridgeport’s lone goal on Wednesday night, a power-play tally at 11:09 of the second period. It was his second goal with Bridgeport and his first since Feb. 9th. He and Dufour recorded a game-high five shots.
HELPING HAND
Dennis Cholowski collected his 20th assist on Wednesday night after recording his fourth multi-point contest of the season this past Sunday (two assists). Cholowski is third on the Islanders in scoring (25 points) and second in helpers. His primary assist on Daylan Kuefler’s third-period goal on Sunday was the 100th of his AHL career.
QUICK HITS
Jakub Skarek, who is expected to start tonight’s game for Bridgeport, is on a two-game win streak... The Islanders are 4-5-0-0 against North Division clubs this season... Ruslan Iskhakov earned his team-leading 26th assist and 41st point on Wednesday.
AFFILIATES
New York Islanders (29-22-14): Last: 4-0 L at Buffalo, last night -- Next: Tomorrow vs. Ottawa, 12:30 p.m. ET
Worcester Railers (25-26-4-2): Last: 2-1 vs. Reading, Wednesday -- Next: Tonight vs. Reading, 7:05 p.m. ET