Bridgeport Sound Tigers brawl with Springfield Falcons in growing rivalry

The New York Islanders' AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, are off to a great start to 2014-15 to lead the Eastern Conference with 21 points through 15 games. But they've had trouble with the Springfield Falcons -- that's the team David Leggio did the net toss against -- and on Saturday that trouble erupted into some "old time hockey."

After entering the third period down 3-1, Bridgeport scored twice to tie it 3-3 (Ryan Pulock with his sixth to cap a four-goal weekend, Kael Mouillierat with his fourth of the season). But they gave up a late winner with 1:36 left and then an empty netter with 50 seconds left and then, well, liberties were taken.

The third-period penalties on the boxscore double the length of the page. Most notably, a line brawl commenced with just 15 seconds left, featuring an impressive yard sale of gloves:

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Full Highlights and Post-Game Video

Post beatwriter Michael Fornabaio has the details -- not just of the brawling, but of an exciting game overall. In the Soundin' Off blog:

"Give Springfield credit. They outworked us the first two periods," Thompson said. "We responded very well in the third. Unfortunately, the referees got involved. It ended up being a bit of a mess at the end."

And in the recap proper, for the Post:

"(Anderson) and (Andrey) Pedan were going at it a bit," Mouillierat said. "I just got in the middle of it."

Anderson nailed him with a string of right hands before the linesmen got in.

Bridgeport was not happy. Brett Gallant put a hit into veteran defenseman Jaime Sifers, eventually cross-checking down the Stratford native and former Fairfield Prep standout.

Thomas Larkin jumped Gallant, the other four skaters on each team paired off, and soon enough all 10 were done for the night in front of what remained of a crowd of 3,142.

"Hockey is a game played with emotion," Gallant said.

"(Mouillierat) is one of our top players," he added. "The guy kind of took advantage of that. Stuff happens."

Fornabaio also explained why the penalties and misconducts mean Gallant should expect two one-game suspensions for the effort.

The teams meet again Friday in Springfield. The Falcons are just two points behind in the standings, though the Sound Tigers have two games in hand.