Bentivoglio scores first hat-trick - clinch Sound Tigers' first playoff spot in two years
March 31, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
Albany, NY - Sean Bentivoglio scored his first professional hat-trick and Jon Sim added a goal and two assists to help the Sound Tigers defeat the Albany River Rats 5-3 and clinch the team's first playoff spot in two years. Micheal Haley also had a goal for the Sound Tigers. Bobby Hughes, Cory Quirk and Jamie McBain did the goal-scoring for the River Rats. Nathan Lawson was back in goal for the Sound Tigers tonight and stopped 34 shots to earn his 18th win of the season. The Sound Tigers' record improves to 45-23-3-5, giving them 98 points and claim to second place in the East Division.
Off the opening face-off, Joe Callahan dumped the puck deep into the River Rats' zone. Albany starting goalie, Justin Peters went behind his net intending to cut it off, but the puck hit a partition in the glass and popped out in front to Bentivoglio for the easy tap-in goal, giving the Sound Tigers the 1-0 lead. Jon Sim had the second assist on Bentivoglio's first goal of the period and 10th of the season. Eight minutes later, the Sound Tigers would take a 2-0 lead when Haley was once again in the right spot at the right time for the Sound Tigers. Mark Wotton snapped a shot from the right point that Peters knocked down with his blocker, but Haley was there to snap the loose puck past the Albany net-minder, for his fourth tally of the season. Tomas Marcinko also had an assist on the play. As Haley turned to celebrate with his teammates, he got into a shoving match with River Rats' defenseman Brett Carson and was issued a roughing penalty. Albany would cut the Sound Tigers' lead in half just over a minute later when Bobby Hughes scored his fourth marker of the season on the man-advantage. Jerome Samson and Mark Flood assisted on the goal. Bentivoglio would regain the two-goal advantage for the Sound Tigers, 14:15 into the opening frame with his second goal of the period. Sim caught a pass from Andrew MacDonald in the neutral zone and skated the puck into the River Rats' zone. The Sound Tiger winger saucered a shot on net that Bentivoglio was able to redirect through Peters for his 11th tally of the season to give the Sound Tigers a 3-1 lead.
Bentivoglio would complete his hat-trick 4:46 into the second period. Andrew MacDonald sent a pass through center-ice that Tyler Haskins was able to chip past the River Rat defensemen, springing Bentivoglio in alone on Peters. Bentivoglio made a quick deke and slid the puck through the legs of the Albany net-minder for his 12th goal of the season, giving the Sound Tigers a 4-1 lead. The River Rats would cut the Sound Tiger lead in half when Quirk tallied his first AHL goal four minutes later. Benn Olson and Jerome Samson had the assists on Quirk's goal. With just under four minutes to play in the middle frame, Sim would put the Sound Tigers back up by three when he tipped his ninth goal of the season past Peters. Mike Iggulden carried the puck into the River Rats' zone along the left-wing boards and fed a pass to MacDonald crashing in from the point for a shot in the high slot. Sim was parked in front and tipped the puck past the left pad of Peters, chasing him from the game in favor of backup Daniel Manzato and giving the Sound Tigers a 5-2 lead.
McBain would add his first goal of the season, 6:41 into the third period to close out the scoring. Ryan Weston and Harrison Reed had the assists on McBain's tally.
Lawson earned his 18th win of the season, turning aside 34 of the 37 shots he faced while Peters and Manzato combined to make 27 saves for the River Rats. The Sound Tigers finished the game1-for-3 on the power-play and 9-for-10 on the penalty-kill.
The Sound Tigers have now completed the road portion of their 2008-09 season and will finish the regular season with four games at home starting this weekend on Friday night when the Hershey Bears come to town for a 7 p.m. face-off. The River Rats will pay their final visit of the season to Arena at Harbor Yard on Sunday when these same two teams match-up for a 1 p.m. start. For tickets and information on how you can receive group discounted seating for any of the remaining regular season or playoff home games, contact the team's front office at (203) 334-GOAL or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.
American Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2009
- Aeros score four unanswered goals to beat Chops 6-2 - Houston Aeros
- Aeros shoot down Chops on Tuesday, 6-2 - Iowa Chops
- Sound Tigers Chew Up River Rats 5-3 - Albany River Rats
- Sound Tigers Chew Up River Rats 5-3 - Albany River Rats
- Bentivoglio scores first hat-trick - clinch Sound Tigers' first playoff spot in two years - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolves Ink Kozek - Chicago Wolves
- Flames At Home Three Times This Week - Abbotsford Heat
- Marlies Visit First Place Manitoba Friday, Saturday - Toronto Marlies
- Admirals Players, President to Shave their Heads for ACS - Milwaukee Admirals
- Kings 2007 First Round Pick Joins Monarchs - Manchester Monarchs
- Young Gun Getting it Done - Syracuse Crunch
- Whitmore Named Pirates 2008-09 Man of the Year - Portland Pirates
- Fredricks Released From ATO - Providence Bruins
- Admirals Set to Play Final Three Home Games of 2008-09 This Week - Norfolk Admirals
- Win Saturn Sky On Saturday - Rockford IceHogs
- Moose sign pair of Canucks Second Rounders to ATO's - Manitoba Moose
- Wolves Ink Kozek - Chicago Wolves
- B-Sens Weekly - Binghamton Senators
- Admirals Set First Two Playoff Dates - Milwaukee Admirals
- Houston Aeros visit Iowa Chops tonight - Houston Aeros
- Griffins Welcome Infusion of Youth - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Amerks Assign Micflikier To Florida Everblades - Rochester Americans
- Giroux Nets Record 54th Goal Saturday Night - Hershey Bears
- Crunch Sign Right Wing Matt Kennedy - Syracuse Crunch
- Houston Aeros Weekly - Houston Aeros
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.
