Bellows again to scoring in bunches for Bridgeport | TheAHL.com

by Sasha Kandrach | AHL On The BeatKieffer Bellows is scoring in bunches.The Bridgeport Sound Tigers’ sophomore winger has been on a latest tear with 12 targets and 13 factors by means of his final 14 video games, together with his first skilled hat trick on Dec. 28 – his sixth straight dwelling recreation with a objective.All through his exceptional scoring stretch, Bellows and the Sound Tigers have picked up seven essential wins to assist them enhance their total document to 13-17-Four-1. The key? Bellows is dedicated to Bridgeport’s detailed system and taking part in his designated position inside the workforce’s construction.“I’m simply targeted and sticking to the small particulars that [head coach Brent] Thompson talks about,” Bellows mentioned. “He preaches about simply preserving it easy and at all times staying mentally targeted throughout the recreation. I’ve labored on that quite a bit this 12 months from final 12 months. It’s come full-circle.”There was a dividing line in Bellows’ full circle. The New York Islanders’ first-round draft choose (19th total) in 2016 had one objective and three factors within the first 19 video games of the season, so Thompson made the choice to scratch Bellows for 2 straight video games on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24, hoping that seeing the sport from up high would assist.“There have been some inconsistencies along with his recreation at that time, so we talked with him,” Thompson defined. “We had a dialogue and we sat him out and let him watch a recreation from up high. Typically that simply will get a man going. It’s a motivational factor and you then notice, ‘OK, if I simplify, I’m going to have extra alternatives offensively.’”The response was quick.In Bellows’ first recreation again on Nov. 27 towards the Springfield Thunderbirds, the winger scored a objective and had an help on the evening. His bought-in belief within the Sound Tigers’ course of was mirrored in his total, constant and elevated recreation that adopted.“I used to be getting good scoring probabilities and taking part in properly,” Bellows mentioned. “The pucks simply weren’t getting into for me, the bounces weren’t going my means. (Thompson) needed me to go watch from the stands and take a step again, virtually relax just a little bit and take a few of that stress and constructing frustrations off of myself. Once I got here again, I went on the market with the mindset of simply taking part in my recreation, doing what I used to be drafted to do and doing what you’re presupposed to do. It’s introduced me some success.”Now, with the puck discovering the again the of web at spectacular cadence, Bellows leads the Sound Tigers in targets with 13. The 21-year-old is discovering extra confidence in his personal recreation and has discovered chemistry alongside linemates Matt Lorito and Colin McDonald. Bellows attributes his private success to the best synergy of ability combined with work ethic inside their skilled line.“I’ve at all times had confidence in myself and my skills to go on the market and contribute and make performs,” Bellows mentioned. “If you go on the market and discover some chemistry with another guys it helps. You keep in mind and see the place one another are on the ice, the place every man likes to be, the place they just like the puck and the place they don’t, it’s a correlation of each.”Instantly after his hat trick on Dec. 28, Bellows gave all of the credit score to McDonald and Lorito and counseled a full-team effort regardless of Bridgeport finally falling Four-Three in additional time.“It’s a particular second getting your first professional hat trick,” Bellows mentioned. “However I couldn’t have carried out it with out my linemates Colin McDonald and Matt Lorito. It was a full-team effort there tonight, we didn’t get the 2 factors, however it was signal of our workforce coming again there.”Following a 19-point rookie season (12 targets, seven assists) and having posted three factors (2g, 1a) in 5 video games of the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs, Bellows got here into in his second season desirous to additional sharpen his 200-foot recreation and set up himself as a playmaker on the professional stage.The 6-foot-1, 195-pound winger is embracing the chance for greater minutes and appears on the ability play. Bellows is now tied for the workforce lead in power-play targets with Andrew Ladd and Travis St. Denis, who even have two conversions on the person benefit.“What I like about him is that he’s at all times labored extraordinarily exhausting on and off of the ice,” Thompson mentioned of Bellows. “He involves apply every single day and tries to be higher. He works on his shot; he’s in all probability annoyed with himself with the manufacturing offensively. He’s controlling the puck. He’s making the precise selections. His puck safety is massive, he’s going to the web. You’re beginning to see him being extra of a constant participant shift-to-shift and game-to-game. That’s what I like about him proper now’s his consistency and work ethic. And he’s discovering the again of the web.”Of the various classes skilled hockey teaches, one of many important ones is psychological rigor. Bellows has relied on his expertise from his rookie season the place he weathered the problem of putting up with level and objective droughts.“By way of that first 12 months I went by means of quite a lot of ups and downs and I feel that examined my psychological energy,” Bellows mentioned. “Carrying that over into this 12 months was big. Particularly with that begin that I had. I used to be taking part in properly, like I mentioned. Simply going by means of that psychological grind whenever you’re not scoring or pucks aren’t going your means, simply not getting down on your self. I’ve discovered quite a bit simply from that final 12 months.”With consistency on their aspect because the Sound Tigers are nearing a totally wholesome roster and starting to string just a few wins again collectively, the workforce is assured of their potential to make a push within the second half. Gamers like Bellows, who’re hitting their stride and radiating confidence, can be belongings as Bridgeport seems to be to proceed ascending within the standings.