Julien Gauthier scores two goals 28 seconds apart and the Bridgeport Islanders (25-38-7), the American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, defeat the Providence Blue in their final game of the season. Won 4-1 over Inns (41 seconds). -21-6-3) on Saturday at Total Mortgage Arena.
Alex Jeffries (pictured) also had a power play goal, and Cole Bardreau (1 goal, 1 assist) and Dennis Cholowski (2 assists) each had two points on Fan Appreciation Night.
Henrik Tikkanen (8-6-2) made 31 saves, including a penalty kick by Georgy Merkulov in the final three minutes.
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The Bruins took the lead 2:38 into the game on Ian Mitchell's sixth goal of the season. Brett Harrison broke through the Islanders' defense and was forced to rebound and scramble in front of the net after a save from Tikkanen. Harrison got the ball back and slipped a pass into the deep slot, where Mitchell fell over and beat Tikkanen, who went out of the net. John Farinacci got the second assist.
The Islanders stormed back with each of the next four goals. Bridgeport tied it just 2:09 later with Jeffries' power-play goal, his first on the man advantage as a pro. The rookie took a shot from the right circle that was blocked in front of him, but Jeffries grabbed the rebound and tried again, this time firing the puck over Kyle Kiser's shoulder to tie the game. Cholowski and Brian Pigno had assists.
After a scoreless second period, Gauthier ignited the Islanders' offense with two goals in a span of 28 seconds in the third period. His first moment came on a power play 9 minutes, 2 seconds into the period, when Tyce Thompson sent a pass from under the goal line and Gauthier fired one shot past Kiser from on target. Cholowski served as a secondary assist.
Gauthier's second of the period came on a 2-on-1 fast break into the offensive zone. Bardreau made a perfect pass to Gauthier, who was on top of his game, and Gauthier went from forehand to backhand, past Kaiser, and extended the Islanders' lead to 3-1. Daylan Kuchler received the second assist.
Gauthier scored with a backhander late in the third period that hit everything but the post and was inches away from scoring the Islanders' first hat trick of the season.
The Islanders clinched the victory on Bardreaux's empty-net goal 18:49 into the third period. Bridgeport went 2-for-3 on the power play and finished the game without a penalty kill.
