BRIDGEPORT The kid might never get that AHL contract this year, but he's shown he belongs.

John Morlang, playing on his seventh pro tryout of the season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, hustled Wednesday night to score the game-winning goal in a 3-2 win over the Providence Bruins. He's probably one of our best forwards right now, Bridgeport coach Greg Cronin said. Morlang's goal, only 43 seconds after referee Dave Hansen waved off an apparent Bridgeport goal and ruled Justin Mapletoft kicked the puck in, gave the Sound Tigers a 3-1 lead in front of 2,552 at the Arena at Harbor Yard. With both Morlang and Cole Jarrett still in the zone, Mapletoft fired the puck back in to the left side of the net. The Bruins played the delayed offsides a little too nonchalantly.

Jarrett and Morlang tagged up at the blue line, and Morlang charged in for the puck ahead of the defense. He got to it, pulled it back to his forehand and tucked it between Chris Madden's legs. To get one on the same shift felt great, Morlang said. Mapletoft has 74 assists as a Sound Tiger, two behind team record holder Trent Hunter.

Mapletoft happened to be out on that shift because Jeff Hutchins, who signed a pro tryout deal Wednesday after arriving Tuesday from Mississippi, was in the penalty box for a fight with Brendan Walsh. Hutchins, who played center, was battling in front of the net when Jarrett scored Bridgeport's first goal on the rebound of a Morlang shot. Bridgeport didn't play a pretty game,

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but Dieter Kochan, playing his 10th game in the last 11, made 33 saves to help the Sound Tigers dodge numerous turnovers in their own zone or at their own blue line. Kochan stopped a wide-open Patrice Bergeron from the slot early in the third for perhaps the biggest of his 11 third-period stops. Brad Boyes scored the final goal on a perfect shot with 6:28 left in the second, rifling a turnover from the right-wing half boards off the far post. After Bergeron scored from the point on a power play to take a 1-0 lead, Bridgeport still 17 points out of playoff position with 21 games left scored three goals in a row.

Justin Papineau gave Bridgeport the lead for good when his pass into the slot banked into the net off former Sound Tiger Jay Leach.

Defenseman Richard Seeley was reported OK after missing the last 13 minutes with a couple of minor injuries. Eric Godard was also OK after hitting his head while checking Milan Jurcina.

Graham Belak remained out ill.