Sound Tigers Edged by Falcons 5-4
March 28, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Mar. 28, 2013) - Springfield forward Alex Aleardi netted his first pro goal 4:15 into the third period to snap a 4-4 tie as the Falcons scored three unanswered goals to come back and beat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 5-4 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield on Thursday night. With the win, the Falcons improve to 38-18-5-4. The Sound Tigers fall to 27-27-6-5.
The Sound Tigers took an early lead just 2:59 into the game. Ty Wishart carried the puck through the neutral zone and fired a puck off of Allen York's left leg pad, but the rebound deflected right to Blair Riley's tape. Riley fired the rebound past York for his seventh goal of the season, and the Sound Tigers led 1-0. The Falcons answered just 40 seconds later, when Jonathan Audy-Marchessault buried a rebound after Rick DiPietro made three point-blank saves to tie the game at one.
Scott Campbell regained the Sound Tigers' advantage at 6:01 of the first period, sending Brandon DeFazio's pass from behind the net through York's pads for his fourth goal of the season to give Bridgeport a 2-1 lead. Brock Nelson scored the first of the Sound Tigers' two power play goals in the opening period at 8:39 to give the visitors a two-goal lead, wristing a shot from the slot over York's glove for his 19th goal of the year.
Springfield answered at 10:45 of the period with a power play goal of its own when Ryan Craig deflected Matthew Ford's point shot past DiPietro to cut the Falcons deficit to 3-2. However, the Sound Tigers went on the power play once more at 12:10 when Cody Goloubef was called for holding, and Sean Backman scored on a rebound 15 seconds into the ensuing power play to give the Sound Tigers a 4-2 lead. York was then pulled in favor of Paul Dainton after allowing four goals on six shots, but had to re-enter the game early in the second period after Dainton appeared to have injured himself following a save on Riley.
The Falcons cut into the Sound Tigers lead again with 4:36 left in the second period, when Ford snuck behind the Bridgeport defense on a breakaway and fired over DiPietro to make the score 4-3.
Will Weber tied the score for the Falcons just 26 seconds into the final period, when he stole a breakout pass at the Sound Tigers blue line, cut into the slot and flipped a backhander over DiPietro's blocker. Springfield went on the man-advantage soon after when Matt Donovan was sent off for interference. On that penalty kill, the Sound Tigers looked to convert on a shorthanded 2-on-1 opportunity, but Brandon DeFazio had his legs taken out from under him as he looked to make a pass. The Falcons countered the other way, and after DiPietro made the initial save on the 3-on-1 rush, Aleardi netted the rebound for his first pro goal.
The Sound Tigers had an opportunity on the power play when Andrew Joudrey was called for delay of game with 7:45 remaining on regulation, but Nino Niederreiter's deflection in front caromed off of the right post.
The Sound Tigers return to action this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. when they travel to Glens Falls, NY to face the Adirondack Phantoms.
NOTES: Thursday night's first period marked the first time the Sound Tigers had scored four goals in a period since Jan. 11, 2013, when Bridgeport scored four times in the third period in Providence after trailing 5-0 entering the final frame ... The Sound Tigers have recorded two power play goals in back-to-back games after going 0-for-10 on the man-advantage against Springfield last Saturday ... Syosset, Long Island native Ben Rosen made his pro debut with the Sound Tigers after signing an ATO on Tuesday.
THREE STARS
1. SPR: Alex Aleardi
2. SPR: Matthew Ford
3. SPR: Jonathan Audy-Marchessault
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