Sports stats



AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Haskins scores shorthanded in the third to earn Sound Tigers point in shootout loss to Albany

February 25, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


Bridgeport, Conn. - After falling behind 2-0 halfway through the second period, the Sound Tigers were able to battle back with two unanswered goals to steal a point in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Albany River Rats. Brandon Sutter and Jerome Samson opened the scoring with two tallies in the second period for Albany, but Jesse Joensuu cut the River Rats lead in half to 2-1 three minutes later. In the third, Haskins scored his second shorthanded goal of the season, outracing a River Rat defenseman and backhanding a shot over Albany starting goalie, Justin Peters to tie the score at two and send the game to overtime and the eventual shootout. Jakub Petruzalek's successful shootout attempt would clinch the win for the River Rats in their first game since their terrible bus accident last Wednesday. With the loss, the Sound Tigers drop to 33-17-1-3, but do earn a point, clawing them within a point of the second place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

In a scoreless first period that saw the Sound Tigers outshoot the River Rats 13-9, it was Sound Tigers' net-minder Nathan Lawson coming up big with several saves on two point blank chances in front. Bryan Rodney wristed a shot on goal that Lawson saved but the rebound bounced out to Mike Angelidis in front. The Albany winger tried to quickly sweep the puck through Lawson but the Sound Tiger net-minder covered up and was then run over by two crashing River Rat forwards.

Sutter would open the scoring in the middle frame with his first goal of the season, since he was loaned to Albany on a conditioning stint this afternoon. The Carolina Hurricanes' first overall draft pick from 2007, broke through two Sound Tigers, came in alone on Lawson and pushed the puck under the Sound Tigers' goaltender to give the River Rats the 1-0 lead four minutes into the second period. Samson would make it 2-0 in favor of Albany four minutes later with his 15th goal of the season. Ryan Weston and Benn Olson had assists on Samson's goal. Joensuu would put the Sound Tigers on the scoreboard, also with his 15th tally of the season, at the 11:51 mark of the second. Jeremy Colliton sent a pass to Joensuu in front of the Sound Tigers' bench and the big Finnish winger dropped his shoulder and drove to the net. Before reaching the goal-line, Joensuu snapped a quick shot on Peters that snuck through the Albany goaltender to cut the River Rats' lead to 2-1. Mike Iggulden also had an assist on the play.

While on the penalty-kill eight minutes into the third period, Haskins would tie the score at two. The play started with Lawson attempting to clear the puck but it was knocked down at the point by an Albany defenseman. Unable to control the puck, Haskins poked it out of the zone and was sprung on a breakaway from center-ice. Haskins made a fake to his forehand, then pulled the puck to his backhand and lifted it over Peters' right pad for his sixth goal of the season.

Nothing was decided in the five minute overtime period so the game went to a shootout. The River Rats received goals from Nick Dodge and Dwight Helminen on their first attempts, but Trevor Smith was able to draw the Sound Tigers closer with his successful shot to make the score 2-1 Albany with three rounds remaining. The Sound Tigers were unable to score on their next two attempts and Petruzalek won the game in the fifth round, snapped a shot past Lawson to win the emotional first game back for the River Rats 3-2.

Lawson finished the game with 26 saves on 28 shots while Peters earned the win turning aside 36 of the 38 Sound Tiger shots he faced. The Sound Tigers were 0-for-3 on the power-play and 4-for-4 on the penalty-kill.

On Friday, the Sound Tigers will pay their final regular season visit to the Wachovia Spectrum, taking on the Philadelphia Phantoms at 7:05 p.m. The top affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers will move out of the Spectrum as the city plans on demolishing the building at the close of the 2008-09 AHL season. The following night, the Sound Tigers will return to action at Arena at Harbor Yard against the Penguins at 7 p.m. For tickets or information on how to receive group discounted pricing, contact the Sound Tigers' front office at (203) 334-GOAL or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.

Check out the Bridgeport Islanders Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Bridgeport Islanders Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central