AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Bridgeport Wins Penalty-Laden Game

December 6, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Kael Mouillierat scored the shootout winner as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers snapped their five-game road winless streak with a 3-2 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Saturday night at PPL Center.

The first period went without any goals, but with plenty of action. Both teams went to the box their fair share of times, highlighted by a heavyweight bout by Brett Gallant and Derek Mathers. Johan Sundstrom also got into the action, stepping up after teammate John Persson was leveled out in neutral ice.

The Phantoms finally opened the scoring just over six minutes into the second. Brett Hextall came streaking in down the right wing and fired a shot off the post and in. The goal not only led to a heap of teddy bears being chucked onto the ice for the promotional Teddy Bear Toss, but it also ended Kevin Poulin's personal shutout streak at 86:08.

Exactly 30 seconds later, Aaron Ness threw a shot on net from the point that found its way off the pipe and into the net. It was Ness' third goal of the season, with Alan Quine and Mark Nemec notching the assists. The helper was the first AHL point for Nemec.

Just over a minute later, the Phantoms got their lead right back. After some extensive offensive zone pressure, the puck made its way out in front to the slot where Darroll Powe was sitting and he smacked it home for his fourth on the year. The goal gave the Phantoms a 2-1 lead.

Despite trailing in the game, Kevin Poulin made some spectacular stops to keep Bridgeport only down one. This was highlighted by a post-to-post stop he made early in the third period, somehow keeping the puck out of the net.

When it looked as if the Sound Tigers would fall yet again, Colin McDonald came up huge. It was Jesse Graham who found McDonald with a brilliant feed and the vet did the rest, firing home his seventh of the season to tie the game up with 5:21 left in the third.

The game finished with even more penalties, with the Sound Tigers killing off two four-on-three's in the overtime period to force a shootout. It almost didn't get that far as Ness hit the post and C.J. Stretch flipped one just over the net but it eventually fell to a skills competition.

Although the Phantoms hopped out to an early lead in the shootout, Stretch responded with a goal of his own. Poulin then made a big stop, followed by Mouillierat's goal and another stop by Poulin to preserve the win.

Poulin finished the game with 27 saves in the victory, while Rob Zepp stopped 37 shots despite the loss. There were 15 total penalties, but neither team could find the back of the net on the power play.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon, this time at Webster Bank Arena. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.

Notes: This was the 85 th meeting all-time between the two teams, but the first at the brand-new PPL Center...The Sound Tigers outshot their opponent for the second straight night after being outshot for seven straight games...The Sound Tigers went 9-for-9 on the penalty kill tonight, their best mark for one game on the season.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2014


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