WILKES-BARRE, Penn. – In their second straight trip to Mohegan Sun Arena, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (12-6-0-0), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, went neck-and-neck with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (13-4-2-0), but came up short in a 1-0 setback on Saturday.
Penguins’ netminder Tristan Jarry (8-4-1-0) earned his first shutout of the season with 24 saves, while Jean-Sebastien Dea scored the game’s only goal early in the third period.
The loss snapped Bridgeport’s four-game win streak and dropped the club to 1-3-0-0 against the Penguins this season. It was the first time the Sound Tigers have suffered a 1-0 loss since March 16, 2013.
The first period was a stalemate in almost every way as neither team scored, but both the Sound Tigers and Penguins notched eight shots and went 0-for-1 on the power play. The middle frame was also scoreless with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton outshooting Bridgeport 14-9.
In the third, Dea capitalized with a power-play tally at the 4:30 mark to put the Penguins out front. With Ben Holmstrom in the box for interference, Chad Ruhwedel rifled a shot on target that was stopped by goaltender Stephon Williams. Unable to cover, a crowd gathered in front, allowing Dea and Tom Kostopoulos the opportunity to jam away. Kostopoulos eventually elevated the puck at the goal line where Dea nudged it cross for his sixth tally of the season.
The Sound Tigers elected to pull Williams for the extra attacker with just under a minute and a half remaining, but it was to no avail.
The game included one fight at 7:15 of the third period when Dea and Kyle Burroughs dropped the gloves after Dea upended Williams at the side of the net. Burroughs was also assessed a two-minute instigating minor and 10-minute miscount for instigating after confronting Dea to stick up for his goaltender.
The Sound Tigers finished the game 0-for-2 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill. Williams (2-6-0-0) made 29 saves, while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton outshot Bridgeport 30-24.