AHL Bridgeport Islanders

McLean tallies two points in Sound Tigers' 4-1 victory over Philadelphia

Published on February 13, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


Bridgeport, Conn. - For the second straight game, Sound Tigers' goalie Tobias Stephan faced 22 shots while making 21 saves to back-stop the Sound Tigers to a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phantoms. Tomas Marcinko scored his fourth goal of the game and Chris Lee and Kurtis McLean both tallied power-play goals in the second period for the Sound Tigers. Mark Wotton contributed with an empty net goal in the final few minutes of regulation. Danny Syvret scored the Phantoms' lone goal of the game, snapping Stephan's shutout bid halfway through the third period. With the win, the Sound Tigers hit the 30-win mark and improve their record to 30-17-3-2 for 65 points to keep their third place position in the East Division.

The fourth line opened the scoring with just under four minutes to play in the opening period. Dennis Packard wrapped the puck around the end boards to Mitch Fritz in the left circle where he snapped a shot on Philadelphia net-minder, Scott Munroe. The Phantoms' goalie made the initial save but the puck fell behind him. Marcinko, dragging a Philadelphia defenseman on his back, worked his way to the front of the net and jammed his fourth goal of the season past Munroe to give the Sound Tigers the 1-0 lead.

Lee would double the Sound Tigers' lead three minutes into the second period while the Sound Tigers were on the power-play. Ben Walter fed a pass to McLean at the left point where he cranked a slap-shot that was blocked by a Phantom defenseman. The puck caromed to Lee at the right point, giving him a wide open net to shoot at as Munroe had committed to McLean's shot. Lee looked up and fired the puck into the back of the net for his second marker of the year. McLean would make it 3-0 in favor of the Sound Tigers three minutes later while on the man-advantage. Trevor Smith dumped the puck deep into the Philadelphia zone where McLean beat Phantom defenseman Oskars Bartulis, to the puck. Untouched coming out from the left post, McLean spun and snapped a shot over Munroe's shoulder for his 13th tally of the season.

In the third period, Syvret would score his eighth goal of the season to put the Phantoms on the board and cut the Sound Tigers lead to 3-1. Jonathan Matsumoto and Patrick Maroon had the assists on the goal. After Syvret's goal, the Sound Tigers would clamp down defensively, limiting any Philadelphia chances. Wotton would put the game out of reach with under two minutes to play. Jamie Fraser sent a pass to Sean Bentivoglio as the forward was breaking out of the zone. Bentivoglio chipped the puck ahead of himself and into the Philadelphia zone where he then out-skated a Phantom defenseman and backhanded a no look pass to Wotton in front for the tap in goal, his second of the season to seal the 4-1 win for the Sound Tigers.

Stephan finished the game with 21 saves on 22 Phantom shots while Munroe suffered the loss making 24 saves. The Sound Tigers improve to 30-17-3-2 and now have 65 points. The Sound Tigers remain a point ahead of the Binghamton Senators in the East Division who also won tonight, a 5-1 victory over the Hershey Bears.

The Sound Tigers will have the day off tomorrow and then return to the ice Sunday to take on the Norfolk Admirals at 4 p.m. For tickets or information on how to receive discounted group tickets, contact the Sound Tigers' front office at (203) 334-GOAL or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 13, 2009


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