3 Reasons The Bridgeport Islanders Could Be A Playoff Team – Hockey Writers – Bridgeport Islanders

The surprising thing is that the Bridgeport Islanders have played well in their recent games and have entered the standings. They won two of their three games on the Pennsylvania road trip with a 6-1 win over the Hershey Bears on November 15 and a 5-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins the following day. After that their last game saw them gain a point with a defeat on Nov. 23 3-2 on the Charlotte Checkers kick.

Related: 3 Reasons Bridgeport Islanders Offense Is Improving

The Islanders are still in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 4-10-1-2 record. However, this team looks different from the one that was worst in this division last season. The Islanders have the players and talent to make the playoffs, even in an increasingly competitive division.

Bridgeport Can Score

Statistically, the Islanders have a below-average offense, averaging just 2.88 goals per game. Recent games have shown that it is turning around with 21 goals in the last six games, including six goals in the win over the Bears. The offense is something that the team can rely on to win games and get into the playoffs.

Brian Pinho is the leader of the offense with 10 goals and six assists but the offense is more than a veteran forward. Chris Terry is back for the Islanders and has 13 assists while Alex Jefferies and Fredrik Karlstrom have combined for 11 goals and seven assists. While the defense saw a number of skaters come and go, Samuel Bolduc and Wyatt Newpower emerged as standout players with five goals and 10 assists.

Last season the Islanders didn’t score a goal and struggled defensively. Defense is still an issue but the good news is that they can win games against each other. This is how this team can play well on the ground and push for a playoff spot.

Young Skaters will issue a List

The Islanders played a lot of close games and did so without getting much from William Dufour, Matthew Maggio, or defenseman Calle Odelius, their top three prospects. The three skaters combined for just three goals and nine assists and all struggled on the other end of the ice. Maggio has started to turn the corner in recent games but Dufour has struggled and that’s why he was healthy in the game on November 23 against the Checkers.

Three skaters will find their footing as the season progresses and not only earn bigger roles on the roster but make it all the way to the American Hockey League (AHL). If the three prospects continue, the Islanders will pile up the wins. Dufour is a scorer who knows how to use open looks and Maggio is a well-rounded striker who can do it all. Similarly, Odelius can move the puck up the ice and be a scoring threat at the blue line while shutting down opposing offenses. The young defenseman is learning the AHL game on the fly but with each game, he continues to adjust and improve.

The Islanders have a youth organization that helps their NHL program with Isaiah George leading the way. The same thing is poised to happen with an AHL team that has multiple skaters carving out key roles. Once they do, this team will run.

Hogberg Adds Stability of Objectives

The defense is chaotic, allowing opponents to generate shots on net at will and defeat goals. That’s why the Islanders are allowing 3.76 goals per game, one of the worst marks in the AHL. That said, goalkeeper Marcus Hogberg has been a bright spot. He is a speedy goaltender who has played in the AHL and NHL but has proven that he can win games and keep games close.

They have just one win this season but three overtime losses, which is a sign that they can keep the Islanders at bay and allow them to score a few points. More importantly, he put together several solid games with 37 saves on Oct. 19 against the Hartford Wolf Pack, made 38 saves on Oct. 30 against the Penguins, and 32 stops in a recent game against the Checkers.

Jakub Skarek has had his ups and downs as an Islanders player but Hogberg has added some stability. It’s the reason why the Islanders won low-scoring games and in many games, forced overtime to earn much-needed points.

Who Can Bridgeport Pass To Make The Playoffs

The Islanders are in a very good division, which includes the returning Calder Cup champions the Bears and many teams that look capable of making a championship run. The catch is that the Atlantic Division, as it is, is divided into two teams, the contenders and the underdogs. Because of this, the three teams will be fighting for the last place in the playoffs in this section and there is little space to go through.

The Springfield Thunderbirds have struggled all season. Considering focusing on an NHL team with St. Louis Blues replacing their head coach in hopes of keeping the competition window open, the Thunderbirds have little room for improvement. Likewise, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms are also not looking good this season. If both teams continue to play poorly, the Islanders could sneak into the playoffs with a respectable finish to the season.

The Islanders have the pieces in place to be a playoff team. If the coaching staff can fix some of the problems in the system and especially make the defense good enough to avoid a late game collapse, the Islanders will be good enough to make the playoffs.