Bardreau Aiming To Lead By Example To Help Struggling Islanders

Things have seemingly gone from bad to worse for the Bridgeport Islanders (6-16-1) this season.

They have one win in their last seven games, and just two total wins in their last 12 games entering Saturday night's rematch in Charlotte against the Checkers.

While the Islanders haven't been able to fill the net themselves, their lack of offensive firepower isn't the reason they find themselves in last place in the Eastern Conference heading into the holidays.

It's their slow starts to games and putting themselves in early multi-goal deficits that has the Islanders struggling in an ultra competitive Atlantic Division.

"I think the urgency factor is the biggest thing," Islanders forward and assistant captain Cole Bardreau told InsideAHLHockey.com last month. "It's just, like, we have to start games better than we have. I mean, it's pretty simple."

Flash back to last month's road contest in Hershey on November 17 against the league's top team, and a 5-1 mountain to climb early in the third period, and all of a sudden it was like the proverbial lightbulbs came on for Bridgeport.

They tallied three goals in a span of 4:57 to turn a 5-1 blowout into a one-goal hockey game. Though Bridgeport was unable to complete the comeback, it opened eyes to the fact that the team can pour it on in a hurry.

"[We] just [need to] believe that we can score. We scored six goals in the past two third periods," Bardreau said of Bridgeport's third period offense in back-to-back 5-4 losses in mid-November, adding, "So we definitely can score and we just have to, you know, trust ourselves and not just dip our toes in at the start of games really lock in."

Frustratingly enough, slow starts have continued to plague Bridgeport this year.

Last weekend in games against Utica and Springfield, the Islanders fell behind 3-0 and 4-0, respectively, on their way to 4-1 and 5-1 losses.

"I think just playing with urgency, again, you know, the same thing happened to us earlier [in the] week against Syracuse. I think kind of just enough was enough. Guys start to get fed up started to get a little bit more engaged," Bardreau explained. "And I don't know, it turned it on. So it's a little frustrating, back-to-back, spotting teams that many goals. It's tough to come back in this league against anyone. So obviously, we need to clean that up."

Falling behind early and needing to rally is not, and has not been, a recipe for success.

But for Bardreau, now in his fifth season with the Islanders organization and ninth year at the pro level, he's well aware that there isn't one player that's going to walk through that door and save the day (and the season).

"I think there's always pressure on everyone, and all the time. And you know, I do feel bad for the power play when it's when it's not going, but at the end of the day you kind of just got to look inward and control what you can control," Bardreau said of the team's offensive struggles this season. "And, you know, if you are one of those defensive guys, or the [goaltender], just, again, control what you can control and don't try to do too much. Because when that happens, it can get even uglier."

Now an alternate captain on the team, Bardreau wants to lead by example. You would be hard-pressed to find someone more determined turn things around in Bridgeport than the Fairport, New York native.

"My career has kind of taken shape, and starting to try to be a leader. That's something I really try to focus on, which is being as consistent as I can," Bardreau said. "You know, I'm not going to always put a million points on the board, but I do take a lot of pride in, you know, being a hard worker and doing the little things night in and night out."