AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Pens fall to Bridgeport, 5-4, in OT

Published on April 16, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


Bridgeport, CT (Thursday, April 15, 2004) - Derek Bekar scored his second goal of the game 11:11 into overtime to lift the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to a 5-4 win over the Penguins in Game One of the best-of-seven East Division Semifinal series. Game Two of the series will be played on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Toby Petersen, Matt Murley and Eric Meloche each recorded a goal and an assist, while Konstantin Koltsov collected two assists for the Penguins. Jeff Hamilton and Bekar each scored two goals while Alan Letang recorded a goal and an assist and Rob Collins added two assists.

The Penguins, who rallied from a 3-1 and 4-2 deficits in the third period, dominated the overtime session, outshooting the Sound Tigers, 6-1. But Bridgeport's one shot in sudden death was the only one that mattered as Bekar led a two-on-one break and from the top of the circle, unleashed a slap shot to the left corner of the net that beat Caron low to the glove-side for the game-winner.

The Penguins started off slow and the Sound Tigers took advantage as they scored two goals early in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Bekar scored on a wrist shot just 57 seconds into the game to give the Sound Tigers a 1-0 lead. Later in the period, Hamilton fired an 85-foot slap shot that beat goaltender Sebastien Caron low to the stick-side at 8:07.

The Penguins cut the lead to a goal late in the second period on a goal by Tom Kostopoulos. With 5:46 left in the period, Kostopoulos' shot hit off a Bridgeport defender and past goaltender Dieter Kochan for the goal.

In the third period, the Sound Tigers regained their two-goal lead when Letang slipped home his first of the playoffs under the pads of Caron for the goal at 9:45. But the Penguins answered back 26 seconds later as Meloche snapped a wrist shot past Kochan for his first goal of the playoffs at 10:09.

A few minutes later, the Penguins tied the game on Murley's goal at 13:01. But the tie didn't last long as Jeff Hamilton came flying down the left wing and fired a slap shot from the top of the circle that beat Caron just inside the post for his second goal of the game at 15:21.

With time running out in regulation, the Penguins tied the game with 1:43 left in the third period. Koltsov fired a shot on net that Kochan blocked, but the Penguins crashed the net and Toby Petersen banged home the tying goal to send the game into overtime.

Kochan made 37 saves to earn the win, while Caron stopped 26 of 31 shots in a losing effort. Both teams were scoreless on five power play chances.

With the win, Bridgeport is now unbeaten in their last five games (4-0-1) against the Penguins, including two overtime wins.

GAME NOTES

Scratches for the Penguins were David Koci (suspension), Pauli Levokari (injury), Ryan Tober (injury), Ondrej Nemec (injury) and Marc-Andre Fleury (healthy scratch) ... The Penguins are 5-3 in overtime games in the playoffs, including a 3-1 mark on the road ... The last overtime game for the Penguins was on May 9, 2001, when Michal Rozsival scored the game-winner in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals against the Hershey Bears (5-4 win)... The Penguins are 4-3 in Game One of a Playoff Series and 4-2 in Game Two ... The 41 shots are the most for the Penguins since, May 1, 2001, when they recorded 41 shots against the Philadelphia Phantoms ... Goaltender Sebastien Caron made his first postseason start after serving as a backup to Rich Parent for 21 games in 2001 and six games to Jean-Sebastien Caron last year ... Defenseman Darcy Robinson sustained a concussion after being hit by Kevin Colley into the boards at 9:33 of the first period ... Colley received a two-minute minor for boarding ... Robinson is out indefinitely ... Toby Petersen, Tom Kostopoulos and Eric Meloche are the only three players to appear in all 28 playoff games in team history.

Check out the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2004


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.

OurSports Central