BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (January 22, 2017) – Josh Ho Sang scored twice on his birthday to guide the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (22-15-1-1), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, to their fourth straight win with a 3-1 victory over the Rochester Americans (18-23-0-1) on Sunday at Webster Bank Arena.
It was Ho-Sang’s first professional multi-goal game, which helped Bridgeport score three unanswered goals after falling behind in the first period.
The Americans struck first at 15:06 of the opening frame courtesy of Hudson Fasching. Tyson Strachan created the chance when he hammered a shot from the right half boards, which was tipped by Fasching midair at the doorstep. His redirection floated past Stephon Williams’ glove for Fasching’s second goal of the season.
The Sound Tigers bounced back just 35 seconds later and tied the game on Ho-Sang’s first goal since Dec. 28. Kyle Burroughs slapped a shot on goal, which skipped through traffic and towards goaltender Linus Ullmark. The fourth-year netminder nearly stopped it, but the puck trickled between his pads and into the crease. There, Ho-Sang tapped it home before Ullmark could cover.
Bridgeport captured its first lead of the game when Ho-Sang netted his second goal of the contest, and fifth of the season. Michael Dal Colle chipped a pass ahead to Ho-Sang in the neutral zone, which set up a breakaway for the rookie. Ho-Sang wheeled down the left wing and capitalized on the opportunity by shooting high glove side on Ullmark at 7:33 of the middle frame.
The Sound Tigers sealed the victory with an empty-net goal from Steve Bernier at 19:52 of the third period. Following a successful clearing attempt by Bracken Kearns, Andrew Rowe fought for the puck behind the Rochester net and forced a pass to Bernier in the crease. Bernier finished for his 15th goal of the season.
Bridgeport went 0-for-2 on the power play, but 4-for-4 on the penalty kill. The team is now 27-for-29 on the penalty kill over its last eight games. Between the pipes, Williams (6-12-0) made 29 saves for his second straight win, while Ullmark (16-14-1) stopped 26 shots in Rochester’s loss.
The Americans outshot the Sound Tigers 30-29.