AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Dibenedetto's Winner Lifts Sound Tigers Over Wolf Pack In Shootout

December 26, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, CT -- Justin DiBenedetto scored the game-winning goal and Nathan Lawson made 39 saves as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack, 3-2, Saturday night at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Bridgeport won the shootout 2-1 to improve their record to 19-14-1-2. The Sound Tigers have now earned points in eight of their last ten games.

"Our guys worked hard," Sound Tigers Head Coach Jack Capuano said. "We were playing against a good team that puts a lot of shots on net. They have a lot of guys who can score goals from the blue line and on their top line."

DiBenedetto put the Sound Tigers on the board first, scoring his sixth goal of the season 3:06 into the second period. Jesse Joensuu picked up a loose puck in the slot and slid a pass to DiBenedetto at the far post where he one-timed a shot into the top of the net.

Early in the third period, Steve Valiquette made a glove save on Bridgeport's Greg Moore who had charged in on a breakaway.

Paul Crowder tied the game for the Wolf Pack at the 7:19 mark of the third period. With his penalty expiring, Crowder jumped out of the box and joined a Hartford rush, making it a 3-on-2 break. Nigel Williams fed a pass through the slot to Crowder who re-directed it past Lawson for his eighth goal of the year.

Three minutes after Hartford tied the game, Matt Martin hit the post as he was hauled down on a breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot. Martin skated in and snapped a shot under Valiquette's arm to tally his eighth goal of the year and give the Sound Tigers the lead once again.

With two minutes remaining, Bridgeport's Dustin Kohn was called for tripping. On the ensuing power-play Ilkka Heikkinen blasted a shot from the blue-line that Lawson turned aside. However, Corey Locke was camped at the far right post to bat home the rebound and tie the game.

Trevor Smith got the Sound Tigers off to a fast start in the shootout, putting a shot under Valiquette's arm in the first round. P.A. Paranteau evened the score in the second round, snapping a shot into the top right corner of the net.

The shootout remained tied into the sixth round when DiBenedetto ripped a hard shot high over Valiquette's glove to win the game for Bridgeport.

"I thought we played a good 65 minutes tonight and we got the two points which was huge," DiBenedetto said.

The Sound Tigers are back in action Friday night when they open a four game road trip with a visit to Providence. Face-off at the Dunkin' Donuts Center is set for 7:00 pm. Bridgeport's next home game is January 9th against the Springfield Falcons at 7:00 pm. For tickets, please call 203-334-GOAL or log on to www.soundtigers.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 26, 2009


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