Bridgeport, CT – Friday night’s game between the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the Worcester Sharks needed overtime and a shootout to decide a winner.
In goal were Mikko Koskinen and Alex Stalock for the Sound Tigers and Sharks, respectively. Mikko Koskinen, a 2009 draft pick of the New York Islanders, made his professional hockey debut after playing the 2008-2009 season with the Espoo Blues in his native Finland. Alex Stalock, of South St. Paul, MN was in net for his second professional start after winning his debut game in Adirondack on the prior Saturday. For the last three seasons he watched over the net for the University of Minnesota – Duluth compiling a 39-44-17 record with 9 shutouts to his credit.
The Sharks John McCarthy scored the first goal of the game 8:46 minutes into the first period when he tipped in a shot taken from the point by Dan DaSilva. The Sound Tiger’s Mark Katic answered back with a goal of his own at the 17:33 mark, converting on a pass from Dustin Kohn. This was the first goal of his professional career for the defenseman who played for the Sarnia Sting of the OHL last season with fellow Sound Tiger Justin DiBenedetto.
Bridgeport then capitalized on a pair of penalties to Worcester’s Michael Wilson (Hooking at 18:15) and Derek Joslin (Delay of Game at 18:43) when Greg Moore (1 g, 1 a), an AHL veteran acquired in the off-season, was able to score with 0:28 seconds left in the first period.
Joslin’s penalty carried over into the second period and though he had just been let out of the penalty box Bridgeport’s Trevor Smith (1 g, 1 a) managed to grab a loose puck just outside the crease and take an easy wrist shot to put the Sound Tigers ahead 3-1.
Off of the ensuing faceoff Worcester was able to pull back within one goal when Ryan Vesce (1 g, 1 a) capitalized on a defensive zone turnover by the Sound Tigers, putting a backhand shot past goalie Mikko Koskinen.
In the third period, with 5:24 remaining in the game, the Shark’s Brandon Mashinter (1 g, 1 a) tied the game at 3-3 when he one-timed a shot past the Bridgeport goalie who was being screened by another Worcester forward and a defenseman who were tangling in front of the crease. Sharks goalie Alex Stalock prevented the Sound Tigers from re-taking the lead late in the game stopping a spin-a-rama attempt by Greg Mouldin with less than 2:00 to go.
With overtime yielding no winner, they moved into a best-of-five shootout with the visiting Sharks shooting first. The Sound Tigers received goals from Trevor Smith and Greg Mauldin. Smith’s goal, on the team’s first shot in the shootout, was a shot from several feet out from the net beating the Sharks goaltender just below his catching glove. Mauldin’s goal came on the third shot of the shootout when he deked Stalock and lifted the puck over the sprawling goalie to his blocker-side.
Bridgeport’s Mikko Koskinen stone-walled all four of the Shark’s shooters which he faced; making a sprawling glove-save on the last shooter to ensure victory. This was Koskinen’s first win of his young professional hockey career. He stopped 32 of 35 Worcester shots. His counterpart at the other end of the ice stopped 23 of the 26 shots he faced from Bridgeport.
Random notes:
Also contributing to their team’s efforts tonight were Andrew Mac Donald of the Sound Tigers and T.J. Trevelyan of the Sharks who both had two assists on the night. Worcester was 0 for 5 on the power play while Bridgeport was 1 for 6. Worcester was assessed 24 minutes in penalties on the night including two 5 minute majors for fighting. Bridgeport was assessed 22 minutes in penalties, also including two 5 minute fighting penalties. The Shark’s Brandon Mashinter had a “Gordie Howe Hat-trick” for the night; fighting Brett Westgarth in the first period, assisting on Ryan Vesce’s goal in the second period, and scoring Worcester’s third goal late in the third period to tie the game. Attendance at the arena was announced as 2,321.
Bridgeport’s next game will be their first of the season on the road, visiting the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins at 7:05 PM on Saturday. The Worcester Sharks continue their road trip with a game against the Lowell Devils on Saturday night starting at 7:00 PM.
Contact michael.meier@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.