Justin Mapletoft scored twice in the third period and Rob Collins got the game-winner in overtime as Bridgeport came back from three goals down to stun Manchester on Saturday night, 4-3.
Brad Smyth, Dustin Brown and George Parros had staked the Monarchs, who sit first in the Atlantic Division, to a comfortable 3-0 lead midway through the second period.
Cole Jarrett got the Sound Tigers on the board later in the period, but Bridgeport still trailed entering the third despite a 34-17 edge in shots on goal.
Mapletoft made it 3-2 at the 4:09 mark, then tied the score with exactly four minutes remining in regulation.
Collins’ game-winner was his team-leading 21st goal of the season.
Rookie defenseman Ryan Caldwell dished out three assists and Wade Dubielewicz made 25 saves for Bridgeport, which moved back to the .500 mark for the season (31-31-2-1).
Mike Cammalleri added two assists for the Monarchs, who saw their home record fall to 25-6-3-1.
Elsewhere on Saturday:
Scottie Upshall scored twice and Brad Tiley had three assists as Milwaukee held off Edmonton, 5-3… Nathan Smith recorded a hat trick and Jimmy Roy and Jeff Heerema added three points each as Manitoba routed Houston, 8-1… Joey MacDonald made 42 saves as Grand Rapids beat Chicago, 4-3, ending the Wolves’ 13-game points streak… Chris Taylor scored three power-play goals in regulation and David Cullen added one in overtime to give Rochester a 4-3 win over Syracuse… Denis Hamel scored the winner for Binghamton in a 4-3 overtime victory over Philadelphia… Pierre Parenteau scored three times in the first period, but Cincinnati needed Michael Holmqvist‘s goal in overtime to get past Cleveland, 5-4… Graham Mink and Jakub Klepis scored in the third period of Portland’s 2-1 victory at Norfolk… Ken Gernander scored with 3:46 left in regulation to lead Hartford over Lowell, 3-2… Yann Danis made 27 saves as Hamilton shut out St. John’s, 2-0… Ryan Jardine scored the lone goal and Travis Scott made 32 saves as San Antonio blanked Utah, 1-0… Zach Parise provided the offense and Ari Ahonen made 27 saves for Albany in a 1-0 win over Springfield.
