BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (14-6-0-0) received goals for Colin Markison, Travis St. Denis and Tanner Fritz on Friday en route to a 3-1 victory over the Springfield Thunderbirds (7-8-1-1) at MassMutual Center.
Between the pipes, Eamon McAdam made 21 saves on 22 shots and earned his sixth straight win to begin the season, equaling Chris Gibson’s record of 6-0-0-0. Bridgeport has now won six of its last seven games.
Following more than 33 minutes of scoreless play, Markison broke the ice at 13:17 of the second period in his first game back from injury (since Oct. 22nd). Andrew Rowe created the attack from the left wing by finding Kyle Burroughs with a pass near the right circle. As Burroughs drifted towards the hash marks, he wristed a shot on target that goaltender Reto Berra turned back, but Markison brushed it home from the doorstep for his second goal of the season.
Mike Sgarbossa evened the game for Springfield less than three minutes later with a power-play tally to make it 1-1. From the left side, Shane Harper forced a pass to Paul Thompson at the goal line, where the sixth-year forward quickly turned it to the right post for Sgarbossa. There, he pushed home a one-time shot past McAdam’s reaching glove.
St. Denis delivered the eventual game-winning tally at 7:50 of the third period with his first professional goal. Similar to Markison’s tally, St. Denis was rewarded on a second-chance effort when he muscled home the rebound on Jan Landry’s shot from the parameter. Fritz also assisted on the play, and would add his fifth goal of the season to make it 3-1.
At 13:15 of the third period, Fritz scurried down the right side to create a two-on-one rush and delayed as he neared the hash marks. He also toe-dragged to let defenseman Michael Downing slide past before beating Berra high glove side for the final goal of the night.
Bridgeport finished the game 0-for-4 on the power play and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill. Berra (5-4-2) made 28 saves in the loss, while the Sound Tigers outshot the Thunderbirds 31-22.
The game included one fight at 15:15 of the second period when Connor Jones and Jared McCann dropped the gloves following Jones’ shoulder check on Jayce Howryluk. Jones was also accessed a game misconduct and match penalty.