Cullen Steers Admirals Past Sound Tigers 5-2
December 18, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, CT - The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, were defeated by the Norfolk Admirals 5-2 at home on Sunday as Mark Cullen's hat trick led the way.
Norfolk took a 1-0 lead at 9:18 on a power-play goal by Cullen, his sixth marker of the season, off assists from Nathan Barrett and Mikhail Yakubov. Exactly two minutes later, Robert Nilsson scored his fourth goal of the year off assists by Sean Bergenheim and Chris Thompson to tie the score at 1-1.
"Good things happen when you put the puck on net," Sound Tigers head coach Dave Baseggio said. "Bergie drove hard to the net for a strong goal."
Martin St. Pierre put the Admirals up 2-0 at 13:32 of the first period with his ninth goal of the year off an assist from James Wisniewski, but once again, Nilsson struck quickly tying the score at 2-2 just 25 seconds later when he notched his fifth goal of the year and the second of the game off assists from Bergenheim and Thompson, the second helper for each player.
"Nilsson showed great speed down the wing and put a great shot over the goalie's shoulder," Baseggio said.
Norfolk took a lead 3-2 when they scored the loan goal in the middle frame as Dustin Byfuglien lofted his fifth goal of the season through traffic from the point at 1:39 off assists from Jason Morgan and St. Pierre.
The Admirals extended their lead to 4-2 when Cullen tallied his second goal of the game and seventh of the season from Mike Brown 3:45 into the third period. Cullen then completed the hat trick with 3:15 left to play when he flipped home the rebound of a Quintin Laing shot for the final score of 5-2.
Norfolk goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 23 of 25 shots for the victory while Sound Tigers goalie Wade Dubielewicz took the loss despite making 37 saves. The Admirals 1 for 3 on the power play, 2 for 2 on the penalty kill and held a 42-25 shots on goal advantage. The first star was Cullen, the second was Nilsson and the third was St. Pierre.
The Sound Tigers will play the middle contests of a four-game homestand when they host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. and the Hartford Wolf Pack this Friday at 7:35 p.m. Information about Sound Tigers ticket packages and promotions is available by calling 203-334-GOAL or emailing info@soundtigers.com.
All Sound Tigers games are web-cast live at www.soundtigers.com. Fans can also watch all games live on the B2 Networks.
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