Penalties Galore! Sound Tigers Defeat River Rats 6-3

Published on April 5, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


BRIDGEPORT, CT - Jon Sim scored three goals, all on five-on-three power plays, as he led the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to a 6-3 win over the Albany River Rats Sunday afternoon at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

The opening face off was dropped exactly 15 hours after the River Rats left Binghamton Saturday night, creating one of the shortest turn-around situations for Albany this year. The long bus ride and lack of sleep did not seem to effect the team as rookie Cory Quirk put the Rats ahead 1-0 just 6:11 into the first period. Quirk tipped a shot from Jerome Samson up over the blocker of goaltender Peter Mannino for his second goal in as many games and third of the season. Albany killed off two Bridgeport power plays and then late in the period just seconds after their own power play expired, Ryan Weston jammed home a loose puck at the side of the net at 18:34, his eighth goal of the year, assisted by Brandon Sutter and Tomas Pospisil for a 2-0 lead after one period.

The second period was loaded with penalties as the two teams combined for 13 infractions. Bridgeport started the second period on the power play after Jakub Petruzalek was called from cross-checking at the end of the first period and it took just 1:05 for the Sound Tigers to get on the board as Trevor Smith scored his 30th goal of the year to cut Albany's lead in half. The River Rats regained the lead at 5:25 as Quirk blasted home a power play goal from Samson and Tifu, his second of the game for a 3-1 lead. Then the penalties began to pile up, Albany failed to score on two lengthy five-on-three power plays, as they bombarded the Bridgeport net. Their second two-man advantage was cut short when Samson was called from tripping and then after the whistle the Rats forward was very questionably was ejected from the game, given a five-minute major and a game-misconduct for spearing. Three more hooking penalties to Albany gave Bridgeport almost five total minutes of five-on-three power plays to end the period; the River Rats defended valiantly and nearly emerged without any damage, but the Sound Tigers finally capitalized with two power play goals in the final 32 seconds of the period: Jon Sim scored a five-on-three goal at 19:28 to tie the game and Ben Walter put Bridgeport ahead 4-3 at 19:49.

The Sound Tigers pulled away for good in the third period when Sim completed his hat trick with his third five-on-three goal of the game at 5:45 to make it a 5-3 Bridgeport lead. Joe Callahan added a goal at 14:07 to cap off the 6-3 Sound Tigers win.

Peter Mannino recorded the win by stopping 30-of-33 shots in goal as Bridgeport improved to 47-23-3-5 on the season. Daniel Manzato made 37 saves on 43 shots and took the loss as the River Rats dropped their seventh straight game and fell to 31-39-3-4 on the year. The Sound Tigers out-shot Albany 43-33 in the game and went 5-for-12 on the power play; the Rats were 1-for-9 with the man-advantage. The two teams combined for 30 infractions and a total of 83 penalty minutes.

The River Rats will return home to prepare for their final week of the 2008-09 regular season as they face the Philadelphia Phantoms at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, April 8th at the Times Union Center.

River Rats individual game tickets for the final two home games are on sale now at the River Rats office and the Times Union Center Box Office. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2009


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