BRIDGEPORT — It’s never all about the goals and assists, and when you put a big hockey player on the third line, you’re typically asking him to do a lot of different things.

At the same time, Ross Johnston had one goal and four points in 39 games last year as a rookie, mostly skating on the fourth line or popping in and out of the lineup. In seven games this year for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, he has two goals and an assist, including the game-winning goal Wednesday morning against Albany.

“It’s a very big year,” Johnston said. “I want to be here the whole year — to be up would be another thing — but to have a successful year as a team, individual success will come from that.”

Johnston saw all three leagues last year, going to Missouri (ECHL) after an injury and getting a late-season recall to the New York Islanders.

He has settled in the past couple of weeks on a line with captain Ben Holmstrom and rookie Travis St. Denis; they remained together in Thursday’s practice, ahead of a weekend that includes a game Friday at Hartford and one Saturday at home against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

They’re a trio that complements each other well, and each brings some grit, too. Coach Brent Thompson has used them against other teams’ top players.

“It’s a very good challenge for me,” Johnston said. “Holmstrom’s a guy who’s been around a while, and he’s good at talking on the bench, helping you out.”

Thompson said Johnston has most improved his assertiveness from last year, moving his feet better.

“He’s such a big, strong guy (6-foot-5, 225 pounds). His puck protection is good,” Thompson said.

“He’s solid defensively. He’s not a liability. He’ll block shots. He’s strong on the puck. … He’s developing the right way. Being a big guy, he’s got to focus every shift, every day.”

He’s also not afraid to drop the gloves, although fighting isn’t as much of a factor in the AHL as it was not so long ago. He was among the team’s leaders with five fighting majors last season, and he has one of the team’s three so far this year.

“He brings a toughness element, one of the guys who’ll stand up for our guys,” Thompson said. “We obviously respect him. He’s a great guy in the room.”