Back-to-back one-goal wins give Sound Tigers sweep of home-and-home series
Published on December 31, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, Conn - Dustin Friesen's goal with 10:37 left in regulation proved to be the game-winner as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers defeated the Worcester Sharks 3-2 on Friday afternoon at the Arena at Harbor Yard. With the win, the Sound Tigers improve to 18-14-1-2 overall and sweep the home-and-home series against Worcester. The Sharks drop to 16-12-2-4.
The Sound Tigers took an early 1-0 lead courtesy of a power play goal from Jeremy Colliton. The Blackie, AB native camped out in front of Alex Stalock and deflected Mark Katic's shot from the point for his eighth goal of the season at the 8:43 of the first period. Physical play dominated the rest of the period as Micheal Haley and Nick Petrecki dropped the gloves at 10:05 and Olivier Labelle and Mike Moore squared off with just over two minutes remaining in the opening frame. Kevin Poulin stopped all 10 shots he faced and the Sound Tigers carried a 1-0 lead into the second period.
Worcester tied the score just 1:04 into the second. Jonathan Cheechoo forced a turnover at the Sound Tigers blue line and skated in all alone on Kevin Poulin. Cheechoo faked a shot, then lifted the puck over Poulin's glove for his 14th goal of the year to knot the score at one. The score remained tied through the period due to some solid goaltending on both sides. Each team had power play opportunities including a five-on-three for Worcester in the first half of the stanza, but Poulin and Stalock made timely saves to keep the score 1-1 heading to the final period of play.
Mark Wotton gave the Sound Tigers a 2-1 lead six minutes into the final frame. The Sound Tigers captain held the puck above the right faceoff circle while his team was on the power play, and fired a shot through traffic that bounced off of Andrew Desjardins' stick and past Stalock. But Worcester would tie the game just 29 seconds later on a goal from Cory Quirk. That set the stage for Wotton's defensive partner Dustin Friesen. Rhett Rakhshani freed the puck from the below the Sharks net and fed Friesen who had crept down from the blue line. Friesen's one-timer slid past Stalock to give the Sound Tigers the lead once more at 3-2 with 10:37 to go. That would turn out to be the game-winner, as Kevin Poulin and the Sound Tigers thwarted the Worcester offense down the stretch, and the Sound Tigers skated away with a 3-2 win and a sweep of the home-and-home series.
Poulin made 31 saves to improve to 10-4-0 this season. Rhett Rakhshani added two assists and now has 21 on the season to go with his 10 goals, both of which are team-leading marks. The Sound Tigers close out December with a 8-3-0-1 record and have recorded a point in 14 of their last 17 games.
The Sound Tigers will look for their fourth straight win Sunday afternoon when they host the Providence Bruins at 3:00 p.m.
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