AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Poulin Wall Stands Tall in Sound Tigers 6-2 Win Over Phantoms

Published on January 27, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (Jan. 27, 2012) - Sound Tigers goaltender Kevin Poulin made a career-high 51 saves, one shy of tying Wade Dubielewicz's team record of 52 set during the 2006-07 season, and six different forwards scored as the Sound Tigers defeated the Adirondack Phantoms 6=2D2 at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Friday night. The Sound Tigers extend their road winning streak to six games and their point streak to 10 games as they improve to 21-17-3-2. The Phantoms lose their fourth straight and fall to 21-20-1-1.

Both sides came out firing as each team at 10 shots on goal before the opening period was halfway done. After some impressive saves by Poulin during a 5-on-3 penalty kill, Adirondack broke past the Sound Tigers netminder. Jason Akeson slid the puck to a streaking Tom Sestito in the left circle. Sestito cut back to the slot and beat Poulin with his backhand to give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead with 5:26 left in the opening period.

The Sound Tigers evened the score with 1:07 left in the first. Steve Oleksy dropped the puck above the right circle in the Phantoms zone to Aaron Ness, who snapped the puck towards the Adirondack net. Justin DiBenedetto was parked in front of Phantoms goalie Michael Leighton and deflected it home for his 10th goal of the season to tie the score. Poulin made a season-high 24 saves in the opening period to keep the Sound Tigers in the game, and the two sides went to their respective dressing rooms tied 1-1.

The Sound Tigers shifted the momentum with two quick power play goals to open the second period. Quick puck movement in front of Leighton led to the Sound Tigers second goal, as captain Jeremy Colliton knocked the puck past Leighton in front for his eighth goal of the season 1:24 into the middle frame. Jon Landry extended the Sound Tigers lead to two, beating Leighton short side from the left circle for his first career AHL goal, and the Sound Tigers led 3-1 at the 4:53 mark of the second period. Poulin continued to play strong in net, stopping all 12 shots he faced and 36 of 37 to that point, and Bridgeport carried their two-goal lead into the third period.

The Phantoms opened the period on a power play, but the Sound Tigers would erase any hopes Adirondack had of a comeback with a shorthanded goal. Casey Cizikas made a great play by the Phantoms blue line and slid the puck to a streaking Trevor Frischmon who was all alone in the slot. Frischmon deked and beat Leighton for his fifth goal of the season, and the Sound Tigers led 4-1 at 1:02 of the third period. Harry Zolnierczyk kept Adirondack in the game with a tally just 69 seconds later, but the Sound Tigers responded at the 6:08 mark. A Sound Tigers defenseman cleared the puck high in the air to center ice, and Tyler McNeely gathered the puck at center ice all alone. McNeely skated in and beat Leighton on the breakaway for his fifth goal of the season to increase the Sound Tigers lead to three. Cizikas closed out the scoring, banging home a rebound from a Steve Oleksy shot from the slot at 12:54.

The Sound Tigers are now 9-0-0-1 in the month of January, including a 6-0-0-0 mark away from Webster Bank Arena. Cizikas, DiBenedetto, and Oleksy all recorded multi-point games.

The Sound Tigers will close out their road trip tomorrow evening when they make their only trip of the regular season to Syracuse to face the Crunch at 7:30 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2012


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