AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Pens Overcome Sound Tigers

Published on March 2, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defeated the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 5-3 in a back-and-forth battle before 8,055 home fans at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza on Friday night. Micki DuPont scored the game-tying and eventual game-winning goals early in the third period to lift the Penguins. Former Sound Tiger Robert Nilsson had two assists and Kyle Brodziak had three assists in the win.

Sound Tiger leading scorer Jeff Tambellini scored twice, Petteri Nokelainen added a goal and Eric Boguniecki earned two assists in defeat. Sound Tiger newcomer Dustin VanBallegooie set up a goal in his American Hockey League debut but the Sound Tigers saw their losing streak stretch to five games.

The Penguins improved to 37-15-2-4 and the Sound Tigers dropped to 28-26-1-4.

In a game with postseason implications - the Pens are jockeying with Hershey and Norfolk for the East Division's top three spots and Sound Tigers are clinging to the division's fourth and final playoff spot - the Penguins avenged consecutive defeats in the season series. The Sound Tigers won each of the previous two meetings, both in Bridgeport, after the Pens won the first three clashes.

The Penguins scored on their first two power plays to open a 2-0 first-period lead; Ryan Stone and Matt Carkner found the back of the net in the opening period. The Sound Tigers clawed back and scored the next three goals. Tambellini's first of the night, during a 5-on-3 man advantage, cut the Penguins' lead to 2-1 through the first period of play. VanBallegooie set up Nokelainen for a breakaway goal to knot the score at two apiece in the second. Boguniecki spun and made a behind-the-back pass to set up Tambellini on a two-on-one rush to give the Sound Tigers a 3-2 lead which they carried into the third period. It was Tambellini's 24th tally of the season.

After DuPont brought the Penguins back with his two goals Rob Schremp added an insurance tally on the power play.

The Penguins outshot the Sound Tigers 29-26. The Pens were 3-for-5 and the Sound Tigers 1-for-4 on the power play. Penguins' goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers made 23 saves; his counterpart, Billy Thompson, stopped 24 shots.

VanBallegooie wasn't the only new face in the Sound Tigers' lineup. Defenseman Stephen Wood and centerman Matt Reid made their Sound Tiger debuts.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2007


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