/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/1968392/GYI0063593989.jpg)
In two games this weekend Bridgeport put up an incredible 81 shots, scoring 10 goals. Defensively they only let up 58 shots and allowed 2 goals. To make things even more impressive, it wasn't all Casey Cizikas and Matt Donovan. Scoring came from all over the place, 4 assists from unheralded Kael Mouillierat (give the guy some Likes), a hat trick from fan favorite Micheal Haley and 4 assists from Jon Landry.
BP is picking the right time to get hot as the season winds down. They are 3 points behind rivals Connecticut with 2 games in hand. Although they are in 8th (tied for 7th currently) they have games in hand against 2 of the 3 teams 3 points behind them. With dreams of the playoffs (and possibly Home Ice) in the heads of everyone at BP, they are looking to win their first playoff series since 02-03. That team was lead in scoring by 22 year old Trent Hunter, and backstopped by 20 year old Rick DiPietro. May the future be brighter for the next generation of Sound Tigers in the NHL.
Friday February 11th Vs Springfield (Blue Jackets)
Earlier this season Manny Legace had BP's number. He allowed just 3 goals in 3 games, going 2-1 in those games. Today though was a storm that Legace probably didn't see coming when he strapped on the pads. BP scored 55 seconds into the game from Donovan (Cizikas, Sean Backman) and didn't let up as they outshot Springfield 13-6 in the first. Haley (Mouillierat, Brett Gentile) and Trevor Frischmon (Donovan) also scored. About 4 minutes into the 2nd it was Haley (Steven Olesky, Jeremy Colliton) putting another one home. Although Springfield got on the board, they were buried when Justin DiBenedetto (Mouilierat, Jon Landry) and Ty Wishart (Cizikas, David Ullstrom) scored on PP goals within a minute of each other. Wishart (Donovan, Mouilierat) and Haley (Mouilierat, Landry) scored in the 3rd after Legace was pulled to round out the scoring. 3rd Star Donovan, 2nd Star Wishart, 1st Star Haley. [Highlights]
Saturday February 12th Vs Connecticut (Short Island Smurfs)
Much different game, as goalies Kevin Poulin (27 Saves, 28 Shots) and Chad Johnson (40 Saves, 42 shots) were 1st and 3rd stars respectively. CT opened the scoring, but BP tied it up 5 minutes later from DiBenedetto (Landry, Backman). That was the end of scoring in regulation, CT outshot BP 12-8 in the 1st but BP took over the game with 33 shots in the final 2 periods against 16. 37 seconds into OT and Ullstrom (Landry) won the game and got himself 2nd star of the night honors.
It looks as though Wishart is on his way back to the Island [Update: With Rhett Rakhshani being returned to Bridgeport]. The Islanders are going to need to make a decision on the pending RFA either way, and it's always better to make that decision after seeing a player in the NHL.
Natural Born Kirills
Kirill Petrov played 1 game this week and notched an assist; on the season he has 15 goals, 12 assists for 27 points in 49 games.
Kirill Kabanov had an assist in 2 games this week. In 37 games he has 16 goals, 22 assists. Kabanov took an awful shot to the head.
CHL
What happens when Ryan Strome returns to the lineup? You win 3 straight games while posting 19 goals including 11 in one game. Strome had 2 goals and 2 assists (and 2nd star) in Niagra's 11-0 wipeout of Mississauga. He had 2 assists in his other 2 games this week. Mitchell Therot had no points this week. [Highlights from Mississauga]
Quiet week for John Persson who had no points in 3 games. In 54 games he has 19 Goals and 29 Assists.
Solid week from Brenden Kichton who had a goal and 3 assists in 3 games this week. In a 7-3 win early in the week, Kichton was also a +3.
In 5 games this week, Andrei Pedan had a goal and an assist. But he was also a -7 across those games including a -3 game and a -4 night.
Hit the Books*: NCAA
*Danish 401 is popular
Notre Dame dropped both games this weekend to Ferris State, scoring a single goal all weekend. Anders Lee had an assist. Robbie Russo was -2 (all from Saturday nights game).
North Dakota split it's weekend with Minnesota Duluth, with Brock Nelson scoring a goal in the losing effort on Saturday night.
Wisconsin and Jason Clark were off this weekend.
Denver swept it's weekend with Minnesota, with Scott Mayfield posting an assist in both games.
Cody Rosen did not play this week.
Finnish Loans & Trust
Mikko Koskinen played no games this week. In 17 games he has a 2.25 GAA, .919 SV% and an 8-4-3 record.
Jesse Joensuu has 10 goals and 12 assists through 40 games.
Johan Sundstrom played 2 games this week and had no points. On the season he has 5 goals and 2 assists in 40 games.