Sound Tigers 5, Monarchs 2: Those who you would like to score, scored

This site was founded out of interest in the New York Islanders, so it goes without saying that our Bridgeport Sound Tigers observations are made through Islanders-centric lenses.

From that perspective, Friday night could not have gone much better.

A 5-2 Bridgeport win on the road in Manchester saw a goal and assist each from Islanders stalwart Travis Hamonic and Islanders prospects Brock Nelson, Casey Cizikas and Nino Niederreiter. As a bonus, Anders Nilsson made his first start in almost eight months and stopped 32 shots in the win.

Niederreiter had seven shots on goal, followed by Nelson's five. Nelson is 21 years old, Niederreiter 20. (Though drafted in the same year, 2010, they are at opposite ends of the draft/birth window.)

Nelson's goal was on a shorthanded breakaway, Niederreiter's followed on the powerplay -- and both were insurance goals after they assisted on Hamonic's gamewinner.

Islanders fans could get used to the sound of all that.

If you missed it, the official site had some fawning but properly detailed praise for Nelson's role so far. Funny to think he was a deer in headlights during his brief post-NCAA baptism last spring, and now seven months later he looks like a pro hockey player.

Cizikas was also hit with a 10-minute misconduct late in the third, coincidental with Andrew Bodnarchuk, and Brett Gallant and Matt Watkins each had fights.

In a long-distance live blog, Michael Fornabaio has some post-game thoughts from head coach Scott Pellerin as he returned to Manchester via the other locker room. The official site has the narrative, the three stars (all Bridgeport) and the lines.

The Sound Tigers are now 7-3. They return home for a Sunday afternoon matinee against the Connecticut Whale, who have one more game between now and then. They were outshot 40-20 tonight in Springfield.