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Bridgeport Islanders

Recap - Phantoms 3, Sound Tigers 2 (OT)

December 18, 2017 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (December 17, 2017) - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (13-11-2-1), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, forced overtime with a power-play goal late in the third period from Casey Bailey, but fell to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (18-9-1-2) in a 3-2 final at Webster Bank Arena on Sunday.

It was Bailey's third goal in as many games and Michael Dal Colle also logged a tally in regulation, but Lehigh Valley's Corban Knight scored the game-winner just 42 seconds into the extra session. The Phantoms earned their fourth win in as many games against the Sound Tigers.

Between the pipes, Dustin Tokarski (8-2-2) was solid for the visitors and made an impressive 37 saves on 39 shots to backstop the Phantoms' win.

BOX SCORE

Dal Colle put the Sound Tigers on the board first at 9:02 of the opening period. Kane Lafranchise zipped the puck around the boards and deep into Lehigh Valley's zone, where Bailey outhustled a pair of Phantoms' defensemen in the right corner to keep the play alive. Bailey proceeded to send a centering pass to the front of the net, which met Dal Colle in stride and the second-year forward buried a redirection into the back of the twine.

The Phantoms bounced back in the second period and scored twice early in the frame to take a 2-1 lead. The first came from the stick of Steven Swavely, who netted his first goal in the AHL this season. Swavely created the opportunity by lifting the puck out of his own zone and the Phantoms hurried down the ice. Radel Fazleev skated onto it and set up a two-on-one rush, before connecting a back-door feed to Swavey for a one timer to tie the game at the 2:45 mark.

Danick Martel scored his league-leading 17th goal of the season just over three minutes later. Knight settled the puck behind Bridgeport's net and attempted a centering pass to Martel, but his effort was redirected into the air and hovered at the top left corner. Martel stayed with it and batted the airborne puck past Christopher Gibson, which stood as a good goal despite the Sound Tigers' bench calling for a high stick.

Not to be denied, Bridgeport came back to tie the game and pocket one point. While on the power play following a Phantoms' penalty for too many men on the ice, the Sound Tigers converted when Bailey scored his seventh goal of the season, tipping in a Sebastian Aho slap shot from the point. Tanner Fritz also registered his team-leading 29th point of the season at the 16:00 mark. The game remained tied at the end of regulation.

Less than a minute into overtime, Knight scored the game-winner on a one-on-one rush down the right side of Bridgeport's zone. Knight settled for a shot from the circle, but his blast was a rocket that went top shelf on Gibson.

The Sound Tigers outshot the Phantoms 39-18 and finished the game 1-for-2 on the power play. Lehigh Valley did not have a power play in the game.

Next Time Out: Following another five-day hiatus, the Sound Tigers return to action next Friday with a 7:05 p.m. matchup against the Springfield Thunderbirds at MassMutual Center. Fans can follow all of the live action on the Sound Tigers Radio Network and AHL Live, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.

Guarantee Your Seats: Flex plans are on sale now for the 2017-18 campaign, offering the greatest savings and ultimate flexibility of all ticket packages. Pick between a full-season, 20-game, 15-game or 10-game plan and you'll also be entitled to exclusive benefits, including the ticket holder exchange policy, which means any unused tickets can be traded for future games. Please contact Brad Dworin at 203-345-4813 or via brad.dworin@harboryardse.com with questions or to guarantee your seats.

Don't Go It Alone: Whether it's a corporate outing, a fundraiser, or just friends getting together, a group outing with the Sound Tigers will guarantee an unforgettable experience filled with fast-paced action on the ice, great music, promotions and contests at an affordable price. The Sound Tigers have a variety of packages and promotional events to offer. Please call the team's front office at 203-345-2300 ext. 7 for more information on the benefits of bringing your group to a future game!

About the Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Founded in 2001, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Hockey Club is the top minor league affiliate of the New York Islanders. Don't miss your chance to take part in the family fun entertainment happening every home game at Webster Bank Arena. For further information on ticket or sponsorship opportunities, call our office at (203) 345-2300 or e-mail mailto:info@soundtigers.com info@soundtigers.com. Keep up with the latest Sound Tigers news on Facebook and on Twitter. For more team information, log on to soundtigers.com.

- Contact: Alan Fuehring (203) 345-4824, Alan Fuehring alan.fuehring@harboryardse.com

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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