Photo: Bridgeport Islanders

The Bridgeport Islanders beat the Hershey Bears, 5-1 Friday night at the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The loss drops the Bears record to 43-19-5-4 (95 points) on the season.

Following an opening tally by the Islanders in the first frame, the Bears answered early in the second period with a power play goal from Mason Morelli. But it was all Islanders from there.

The Islanders answered with two goals in the second half of the second period for a 3-1 lead at the second intermission. They stretched their lead to 4-1 less than three minutes into the third period and added an empty net goal late for the 5-1 final.

LINEUP

Zach Fucale (21-10-4-2, 2.50 GAA, .904 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the visiting Bears. Cory Schneider (18-11-3-1, 3.00 GAA, .911 sv%) got the start in goal for the Islanders. The forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Mike Vecchione – Connor McMichael – Sam Anas
Mason Morelli – Henrik Borgstrom –Garrett Pilon
Julian Napravnik – Henrik Rybinski – Bogdan Trineyev
Shane Gersich – Riley Sutter – Matt Strome

Gabriel Carlsson – Dylan McIlrath
Bobby Nardella – Aaron Ness
Lucas Johansen – Vincent Iorio

Zach Fucale
Mitchell Gibson

Scratches: Hendrix Lapierre (one-game suspension), Ethen Frank (upper body injury), Mike Sgarbossa (lower body injury), Jake Massie, Logan Day, Ludwig Persson, Dru Krebs, Hunter Shepard.

Recalls/Re-assignments: Aliaksei Protas, Joe Snively and Beck Malenstyn were re-assigned from Washington to Hershey on Friday. Alexander Suzdalev was re-assigned from WHL Regina to Hershey on Friday.

FIRST PERIOD

The Islanders opened the scoring with a tally from Kyle MacLean (11) just 4:29 into the contest. William Dufour (27) and Arnaud Durandeau (31) had the helpers.

MacLean with the #Isles first strike 💪 pic.twitter.com/QHUSGKu1kr

— Bridgeport Islanders (@AHLIslanders) April 14, 2023

And that was it for the first frame. Cory Schneider was strong in goal for the Islanders, stopping all 13 shots he faced. Hershey was 0 for 2 and Bridgeport 0 for 1 on the power play in the first period.

SECOND PERIOD

The Bears tied the game early in the middle frame on a power play marker from Mason Morelli (12) at 4:33. Garrett Pilon (17) and Mike Vecchione (30) had the assists.

Nice zone entry and puck movement on power play goal by Mason Morelli. Tied 1-1. #HBH pic.twitter.com/tLSWBQWIdP

— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) April 15, 2023

But Bridgeport answered midway through the middle frame. Arnaud Durandeau (21) notched the go ahead tally at 11:23. Chris Terry (47) and Andy Andreoff (28) had the assists.

Durandeau’s second point of the game!! pic.twitter.com/co1bhM9fPo

— Bridgeport Islanders (@AHLIslanders) April 15, 2023

The Islanders added a tally from Paul Thompson (13) at 15:41 of the period for a 3-1 lead at the second intermission.

Thompson makes it 3-1 for the #Isles 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/nFsYKrISrl

— Bridgeport Islanders (@AHLIslanders) April 15, 2023

Hershey led in shots 11-8 in the second period and 24-17 after two periods. Hershey was 1 for 3 and Bridgeport 1 for 2 on the power play after two periods.

THIRD PERIOD

The Islanders stretched the lead to 4-1 early in the final frame. Chris Terry (27) potted the Islanders fourth tally at 2:30. They added an empty net goal late for the 5-1 final

The Bears wrap their 2022-23 campaign Saturday night against the Phantoms in Hershey.

SHAVINGS

• AHL box score
• Attendance: 4,720