AHL Bridgeport Islanders

MacDonald returns in net making 26 saves to earn Tigers the victory

Published on January 21, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


Two goals by Jeff Tambellini, his league leading 25th goal of the season and Steve Regier, his 11th were all the Sound Tigers would need to earn the win over the Portland Pirates. Joey MacDonald was strong in the net for the Sound Tigers stopping 26 of the 27 shots he faced.

Joey MacDonald, starting in goal for the Sound Tigers for the first time on this road trip, looked good in the first period, stopping all five Pirate shots. Portland's best chance of the period came when Geoff Platt one-timed a back-door pass but MacDonald was able to move from the left to right post and stop the puck with his pad. The Sound Tigers would outshoot the Pirates in the period but J.P. Levasseur made all nine stops keeping the game scoreless going into the second period.

Sound Tigers' forward, Trevor Smith took a two-minute tripping penalty with three minutes remaining in the second period. The penalty-kill units were able to kill off the man-advantage and as Smith came out of the box, Frans Nielsen sent him a cross-ice pass. Smith came in over the Portland blue-line and snapped a lead pass to Tambellini who was streaking towards the net. Tambellini redirected the feed on his back-hand past Levasseur for his 25th goal of the season giving the Sound Tigers the 1-0 lead.

Steve Regier who returned to the Sound Tigers lineup tonight after suffering from a broken finger put the Sound Tigers up 2-0, four minutes into the third period. Regier set-up in the far circle and tried to connect with Tambellini who cut to the front of the net but the puck went off a stick and trickled through the legs of Levasseur for the 2-0 lead. Ben Walter and Nielsen assisted on Regier's 11th goal of the season. The Pirates would pull within a goal with about three minutes remaining in regulation. Jason King scored his 15th goal of the season on assists from Stephen Dixon and Brandon Segal.

MacDonald would close the door the rest of the way. Portland pulled Levasseur for the extra attacker but MacDonald and the Sound Tigers' defense kept the Pirates from getting the equalizer and winning the game, 2-1. MacDonald finished with 26 saves on 27 shots and his counterpart, Levasseur stopped 23 of the 25 shots he saw. The Sound Tigers were 1-for-6 on the power-play and a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty-kill.

The Sound Tigers will return home to take on the East Division leading Philadelphia Phantoms for the first time at Arena at Harbor Yard, Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia will stay in town to face-off against the Sound Tigers again on Saturday. Face-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2008


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