First Place Sound Tigers Set Franchise Mark, Open Six Game Road Trip
December 10, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
The Sound Tigers beat the Providence Bruins 1-0 at home Wednesday to set a franchise record for the longest, home-ice, unbeaten streak; 11 games at 9-0-2, then lost 4-0 at home Friday to the Manitoba Moose and 4-1 Saturday to the Philadelphia Phantoms before opening a six-game road trip Sunday with a 3-1 road win over the Albany River Rats. The Sound Tigers finished the week in first place in the East Division with 36 points and a 15-7-5-1 record including 9-4-2-0 at home and 6-3-3-1 on the road where they finished the week unbeaten in their last four games at 3-0-1.
WED DEC 4th vs. PRO, 1-0 W: TRENT HUNTER broke a scoreless tie with a five-on-three, power-play goal mid-way through the second period, and RICK DiPIETRO made 30 saves for his third shutout of the season. The Sound Tigers were 1 for 5 on the power play, 4 for 4 on the penalty kill and ousthot Providence 35-30.
FRI DEC 6th vs. MTB, 4-0 L: In a rematch of last spring's Eastern Conference quarterfinals and the first-ever regular-season meeting between the teams, BRANDON REID scored twice, and ALEX AULD made 32 saves for his first shutout of the season for Manitoba. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 5 on the power play while the Moose were 2 for 4. The Sound Tigers had a 32-29 shots on goal advantage.
SAT DEC 7th vs. PHI, 4-1 L: MATT HIGGINS snapped the Sound Tigers' longest-ever scoreless spell at 144:29 with a third-period, shorthanded goal, but KIRBY LAW led Philadelphia with a hat trick. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 6 on the power play while the Phantoms were 1 for 7 and had a 29-27 shots on goal advantage.
SUN DEC 8th at ALB, 3-1 W: MATT HIGGINS and JEFF HAMILTON scored power-play goals, MIKE SOUZA added an unassisted goal, and STEVE VALIQUETTE made 27 saves for his fourth straight win. The Sound Tigers were 2 for 6 on the power play, 6 for 7 on the penalty kill and won despite being outshot 28-25.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK - C JEFF HAMILTON
Hamilton assisted on the game-winning, power-play goal in Wednesday's record-setting win and notched the game-winning goal on the power play Sunday. The former Yale Bulldog has six goals, four assists, ten points and ten penalty minutes in 16 games with the Sound Tigers this season.
THIS WEEK - Road trip takes Sound Tigers to Lone Star State for first time
The Sound Tigers will play four games in five nights for the third week in a row as their six-game road trip takes them to Texas for their first-ever meetings with the expansion San Antonio Rampage Tuesday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and the Houston Aeros Thursday at 8 p.m. and Friday at 8:30 p.m.
TUE DEC 10th at SAN, 8 p.m.: This will be the first of four meetings with San Antonio this season, as well as the first-ever trip to the SBC Center for the Sound Tigers. The Rampage enter this week in fourth place in the West Division with 23 points and an 8-7-5-2 record including 6-1-2-0 at home. San Antonio enters the week unbeaten, 5-0-3-2, in its last ten games and on a three-game winning streak.
THU DEC 12th at HOU, 8 p.m.: This will be the first of four meetings with Houston this season, as well as the first-ever visit to the Compaq Center for the Sound Tigers. The Aeros enter this week in first place in the West Division with 33 points with a 16-7-1-0 record including 7-3-1-0 at home. Aeros D CURTIS MURPHY enters this week first with 11 goals and tied for fourth with 20 points among all AHL blueliners.
FRI DEC 13th at HOU, 8:30 p.m.: This will be the second meeting in as many nights and last of the regular season between the teams in Houston. The Aeros enter this week fifth in the League averaging 3.42 goals for per game and tied for fourth averaging 33.33 shots on goal for per game.
SAT DEC 14th at SAN, 8 p.m.: The Sound Tigers will return to the Alamo City for their second and final visit of the regular season. San Antonio C JIM CAMPBELL enters this week on a seven-game scoring streak with 15 points in that time. The Rampage will visit the Utah Grizzlies Wednesday and Friday.
SOUND TIGERS ON THE AIR
All games are broadcast live on "The ZONE" FOX Sports Radio 1300 and at www.soundtigers.com. Road games are broadcast on WSTC/WNLK 1400/1350. Fans can also click on the "Ask The Broadcaster" link at www.soundtigers.com and email their questions and comments to Voice of the Sound Tigers BILL McLAUGHLIN who will answer them on air.
SOUND TIGERS TEAM LEADERS
Goals - TRENT HUNTER, 12
Penalty Minutes - ERIC GODARD, 91
Assists - TRENT HUNTER, 13
Wins - RICK DiPIETRO, 10
Points - TRENT HUNTER, 25
Goals Against Average - RICK DiPIETRO, 2.21
Plus / Minus - TOMI PETTINEN, +9
Save Percentage - RICK DiPIETRO, .920
SOUND TIGERS SPECIAL TEAMS
Power Play - 24 for 167, 14.4%; 21st
Shorthanded Goals Against - 7
Penalty Kill - 141 for 159, 88.7%; 3rd
Shorthanded Goal For - 4
SOUND TIGERS STREAKS
The Sound Tigers set a franchise record for the longest, home-ice, unbeaten streak by going 9-0-2 during 11 games at the Arena at Harbor Yard from October 18th through their 1-0 win over Providence last Wednesday, December 4th. They enter this week unbeaten in their last four road games at 3-0-1. G STEVE VALIQUETTE has won four straight games. C MATT HIGGINS (SH, PP) is on a two-game, goal-scoring streak.
CLAW MARKS
The Sound Tigers do not play at home again until they host the Lowell Lock Monsters on Saturday, December 21st and the Hartford Wolf Pack on Monday, December 23rd. They will then visit Manitoba on Saturday December 28th and Tuesday, December 31st. The New Year's Eve game will be their 14th in the month of December and 29th in 61 days. The Sound Tigers are 8-0-0-1 in one-goal games and 2-2-1-0 when scoring one goal. They are 10-1-2-1 when scoring the first goal of the game and 5-6-3-0 when allowing it. The Sound Tigers have a better record, 9-4-3-1, when outshot as compared to when they outshoot the opposition, 6-3-2-0. D SVEN BUTENSCHON has notched an assist in his first game with the team during each of his three assignments from the National Hockey League's New York Islanders. The Sound Tigers are 2-3-2-0 versus Western Conference teams this season including 1-1-1-0 on the road.
SOUND TIGERS TRANSACTIONS
D RADEK MARTINEK and RW MATTIAS WEINHANDL remain on recall to the Islanders. C ERIC MANLOW and D SVEN BUTENSCHON were reassigned by the Islanders Wednesday. RW ERIC GODARD was recalled by the Islanders Friday and was reassigned Saturday.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR & PROMOTIONAL NEWS
The Sound Tigers are operating their Team Shop Holiday Kiosk at the Westfield Shoppingtown in Trumbull during extended mall hours through Christmas Eve. The team is offering special holiday packages including Ticket Gift Certificates, Team Shop Gift Certificates and Gift Packs. Led by Head Coach STEVE STIRLING's wife FRANCESCA STIRLING, wives and girlfriends of Sound Tigers' players are selling Candy Grams for $1 to benefit the Kennedy Center. Grad A Shop Rite of Norwalk donated the candy canes. The Team Mascot Storm will visit St. Mary's School in Milford next Tuesday, December 17th at 7 p.m. The Sound Tigers will hold their annual "Teddy Bear Toss" on Saturday, December 21st to benefit several local charities including Children's Connection in Norwalk. Coca-Cola will sponsor a target with prizes available; fans must register at the Kid's Club Table on the Concourse. Sound Tigers' players and Storm will also visit area hospitals delivering toys to children on Sunday, December 22nd. Saturday, December 21st will be "Shelton Appreciation Night" at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
American Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2002
- Sound Tigers Fall Fraction Of A Second Short In San Antonio - Bridgeport Islanders
- Bulldogs Set Another Record in Win - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Amerks Fans and Foodlink Feed Rochester-Area Families - Rochester Americans
- Amerks and WXXI Team Up for Family Day - Rochester Americans
- Griffins Celebrate the Season - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Holiday Extravaganza on Friday - Adirondack Phantoms
- Walker Recalled by St. Louis - Worcester IceCats
- Aldous Inks AHL Deal With The Monarchs - Manchester Monarchs
- Devils call up Clemmensen - Albany River Rats
- Rivermen Hit the Road Once Again - Peoria Rivermen
- Moose to Hold Christmas Skills Camp at Winnipeg Arena - Manitoba Moose
- Moose Plan Promotions - Manitoba Moose
- Flames Fans Behind Success of Teddy Bear Toss and Aliant Telecom Night - Saint John Flames
- Falcons Weekly - Springfield Falcons
- Admirals Update - Norfolk Admirals
- Home for the Holidays - Houston Aeros
- Lasak Returns to Admirals - Milwaukee Admirals
- First Place Sound Tigers Set Franchise Mark, Open Six Game Road Trip - Bridgeport Islanders
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