AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Comeau helps Sound Tigers to early victory

Published on November 5, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


Bridgeport, Conn. - For five years, the Sound Tigers have hosted a "Cool Fun 101" game in which students from all around the local school districts attend an 11 a.m. game, and for each contest, the Sound Tigers have lost. This morning was the sixth matinee game and behind Blake Comeau's goal and an assist and Peter Mannino's 22 save effort, the Sound Tigers defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins by the score of 3-2 to capture their first "Cool Fun 101" victory. Tim Jackman opened the scoring for the Sound Tigers and Jamie Fraser also contributed a goal to improve the Sound Tigers record to 2-0 against the defending Eastern Conference Champions and 8-3-0-1 this season, tying them with the Hershey Bears for the top spot in the East Division with 17 points. Jeff Taffe and Chris Minard scored for the Penguins.

About half-way through the first period, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton broke the scoreless tie when Taffe snapped a loose puck in front past Mannino for his eighth tally of the season. Minard and Janne Pesonen had the assists on the goal making the score 1-0 in favor of the Penguins. Jackman would tie the score at one about a minute later while the Sound Tigers were on a two-man advantage. Former Penguin, Kurtis McLean, quarterbacked the power-play from the point and fed a pass to Mike Iggulden along the half-boards. Iggulden sent a shot on net that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton net-minder John Curry made the initial save on, but Jackman was camped out in front and pounced on the rebound for his sixth goal of the season. Fraser would quickly take the lead for the Sound Tigers 25 seconds later while the Sound Tigers were still on the power-play. Comeau dug the puck out of the right wing corner and sent a pass to Fraser at the left point where he took the pass and walked it into the middle. Fraser wound and fired a slap-shot that went through Curry to grab the 2-1 lead for the Sound Tigers. Joe Callahan contributed with his first assist of the season on Fraser's second marker this season.

Mannino would face his heaviest barrage of shots in the second period but was able to turn aside all nine fired his way. Comeau would use the momentum Mannino created for the team and buried a snap shot over the blocker of Curry to double the Sound Tigers lead, making the score 3-2. Jeremy Colliton and Jack Hillen had the assists on Comeau's second tally of the season coming with less than three minutes to play in the middle frame.

Minard, the AHL leading goal scorer would add to his number just over a minute into the third period when he tapped in his eleventh marker of the season with the assists going to Ben Lovejoy and Taffe. Minard's goal would tighten the game to 3-2 in favor of the Sound Tigers but Mannino would clamp down the rest of the way, stopping the next eight shots he faced, giving him 22 in the game, to earn the victory for the Sound Tigers.

The Sound Tigers finished the game 2-for-6 on the man-advantage and a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty-kill.

Saturday, the Sound Tigers will take on the Lowell Devils for the first time this season at 7 p.m. and then Sunday, the Hershey Bears will come to town for a 4 p.m. game that should be the toughest test the Sound Tigers have had thus far this season. Sunday is also Pink Rink Night where survivors and people who are battling breast cancer will take part in a ceremony during the intermission to honor their efforts in beating cancer. For information on tickets or how to receive a group rate, please contact the Sound Tigers at 203-334-GOAL or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 5, 2008


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