Bridgeport Sound Tigers Tie Philadelphia 3-3 In Preseason Finale
Published on October 6, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
MILFORD, CT â The American Hockey League's 2001-02 Regular Season Champion and Eastern Conference Playoff Champion Bridgeport Sound Tigers finished their 2002 preseason schedule with a 3-3 tie versus the Philadelphia at the Milford Ice Pavilion Sunday. The Sound Tigers finished the preseason with a 2-0-2-0 record.
Special teams played a big role in Sunday's game as the Sound Tigers had four power plays in each of the first two periods, converting one per frame, while Philadelphia had two in each of the first 40 minutes but failed to score on any of the advantages. Both teams scored their first goal of the game during the opposition's first power play. The Sound Tigers also had the best chance to win in the extra session when Philadelphia's Bruno St. Jacques received a minor penalty for tripping at 3:59, but Bridgeport failed to convert the advantage.
Philadelphia opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal by Mike Lephart on an assist from John Slaney 2:44 into the contest on the game's first power play, but the Sound Tigers answered with their shortie when Matt Higgins, who notched the deciding goal 1:56 into overtime in last night's 2-1 win at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, scored unassisted off a breakaway at 10:15.
The Sound Tigers took the lead 4:08 later on a power-play goal by Jeff Hamilton, his second goal in as many nights, on an assist from Mattias Weinhandl.
Philadelphia Goaltender Neil Little made a great save on the Sound Tigers' Martin Chabada from point-blank-range, and Juraj Kolnik hit the Phantoms' crossbar seconds later in the tail end of the first period leaving it a one-goal game through the first 20 minutes of play.
Philadelphia tied the game at 2-2 on a four-on-four goal by Slaney with an assist from Mark Greig :39 into the second period and regained the lead at 3-2 2:12 later when Eric Betournay blasted a slapshot from the high slot past Sound Tigers' Netminder Steve Valiquette with Jack Baker and Slaney notching the assists.
Higgins tied the game at 3-3 with his second goal of the game, a power-play tally, on assists from Daniel Tetrault and Chabada at 9:01 of the middle period.
The teams played a fast-paced but scoreless third period, with one power play apiece, sending the Sound Tigers to their third overtime game in a row and third in four preseason games. However, neither team was able to break the tie.
The Sound Tigers finished the game 2 for 10 on the power play, 5 for 5 on the penalty kill and outshot the Phantoms 26-25 despite being on the wrong end of a 3-1 count in overtime.
The Sound Tigers will host their first-annual golf outing tomorrow, Monday, October 7th, at Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course, and "The Sound Tigers Report", the team's weekly radio program, will debut this Tuesday, October 8th at 7 p.m. on "The Zone" 1300 WAVZ-AM. Proceeds from tomorrow's golf tournament will benefit the Kennedy Center.
The Sound Tigers will open the 2002-03 regular season when they visit the first-year Binghamton Senators on Friday, October 11th and host the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday, October 12th at 7:05 p.m.
Sound Tigers 2002-03 tickets are on sale at the Arena at Harbor Yard box office, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 203-368-1000. Information regarding Sound Tigers full and partial season ticket packages, flex packs, group discounts and birthday packages is also available by calling 203-334-GOAL or logging on to www.soundtigers.com. Groups, organizations, companies, etc. that are interested in having a member of the Sound Tigers appear at an event are invited to call 203-334-GOAL or log on to www.soundtigers.com as well.
American Hockey League Stories from October 6, 2002
- Bridgeport Sound Tigers Tie Philadelphia 3-3 In Preseason Finale - Bridgeport Islanders
- Phantoms end preseason with 3-3 tie in Bridgeport - Adirondack Phantoms
- Lock Monsters Assign Eight - Albany Devils
- Michaud released from training camp tryout - Manitoba Moose
- Monarchs Trim Roster To 22 - Manchester Monarchs
- Bridgeport Sound Tigers Announce Transactions - Bridgeport Islanders
- Saturday's AHL preseason recaps - AHL
- Flames Defeat Portland Pirates 3-2 in Pre-Season Competition - Saint John Flames
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