Gameday: Slumps Face Off as Sound Tigers Visit Hartford

While NHL leaders and players do what could have been done two months ago, the AHL marches on: Tonight the Bridgeport Sound Tigers visit Hartford in a bid to break their six-game winless streak.

Once upon a time Bridgeport was tied for the conference lead; now they're just a point above the 11th-place Connecticut Whale, tonight's equally struggling host: Connecticut also went winless in three games last weekend.

Coach Scott Pellerin had to bust out the Slapshot-style, "Let's really try to win this one, guys" language of "enough is enough." The Sound Tigers have given up too many goals, made too many mistakes, and found themselves killing too many penalties during this slump.

Complicating matters tonight are short-term injuries to David Ullstrom and Travis Hamonic that puts both as unlikely to play. That left lines at practice yesterday like so:

Niederreiter-Nelson-McDonald
Persson-Sundstrom-Backman
Halmo-Cizikas-DeFazio
Gallant-Watkins-Riley

Based on team tweets, Anders Nilsson looks like tonight's starter in goal. If things aren't going well, look for Casey Cizikas to be bumped to a top-six wing position again, depending on who in that mix isn't working.

After tonight, the Sound Tigers play Saturday in Albany (5 p.m .start) before turning around for a 3 p.m. home game Sunday to Syracuse.