AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Red-hot Sound Tigers return home for Thanksgiving weekend

Published on November 20, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


The Bridgeport Sound Tigers, after back-to-back wins in the road this past weekend, return to the Arena at Harbor Yard for a pair of games Thanksgiving weekend. The Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the New York Islanders, will try to feast on their opponents in home games on Friday and Sunday. They host Binghamton on Friday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m., visit Hartford on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. and come back to the Arena to take on Albany Sunday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m.

This past week: The Sound Tigers went 2-0-0-1 this past week, and have earned seven of a possible eight points in their last four games. They lost a 3-2 shootout to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at home on Wednesday, toppled Worcester 5-1 on the road on Friday and edged Hershey 4-3 in an overtime thriller in Chocolate Town on Saturday.

Nilsson stands out: Robert Nilsson earned a whopping seven points in three games (four goals, three assists) - scoring twice against Worcester and Hershey. Nilsson earned first star of the game honors in the win over Hershey after scoring his sixth and seventh goals of the year and picking up an assist when he set up Blake Comeau's overtime winner. He also took third star accolades for his three-point performance in Worcester.

Streaking: Nilsson has five goals and four assists for nine points in his last five games. Jeff Tambellini extended his goal-scoring streak to four games in the win over the Worcester Sharks on Friday and still has a five-game point streak intact after earning an assist in Hershey on Saturday.

In the standings: The Sound Tigers begin the week in fourth place in the East Division with a record of 8-5-0-3. Bridgeport's 19 points puts them within four points of third-place Hershey.

How sweet it is: Bridgeport has won a shootout and an overtime game in two trips to Hershey this season.

Road warriors: In 11 road games, the Sound Tigers have earned 15 of a possible 22 points. The Sound Tigers are 7-3-0-1 away from the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Heating up at home: After a slow start on home ice, the Sound Tigers have skated away with three points in their last couple of games at the Arena, including a shootout win over Worcester last Sunday.

Between the pipes: Goaltender Billy Thompson stopped 39 of 40 Worcester shots on Friday and kicked away 41 of 44 Hershey shots on Saturday. He was the top star of the game against Worcester, and received third star honors against Hershey. The wins were Thompson's first two of the season and he ranks 11th in the American Hockey League with a 2.39 goals against average. Wade Dubielewicz helped Bridgeport earn a point in Wednesday's shootout loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Dubielewicz stopped 29 of 31 regulation and overtime shots.

Three stars: In addition to Nilsson and Thompson earning stars of the game honors, Tambellini was recognized this week. Tambellini was the second star Wednesday against the Pens after scoring a goal and again took home No. 2 honors Friday against the Sharks after scoring a goal and assisting on two others.

Killer PK: Bridgeport's penalty kill continues to frustrate the opposition. The Sound Tigers enter the week atop the league with a percentage of 90.8 percent. They've allowed just 10 man advantage goals in 109 opponent chances. What's more, Frans Nielsen's fourth goal of the year, the first in Friday's game with Worcester, came shorthanded.

Powerful: The Sound Tigers have six power play goals in their last four games.

Lots of shootouts: The Sound Tigers have been to overtime six times and went to the shootout in their first five such games - the most among all AHL teams. Sergei Ogorodnikov has a league-high four shootout tallies in five chances.

Rookie success: Comeau's overtime goal at Hershey gives him five goals and 11 assists for 16 points, good for ninth among first-year professionals.

The week ahead

After taking on three of the league's best teams this past week, the Sound Tigers tangle with East Division basement-dwelling Binghamton on Friday and the Atlantic Division's last-place team, Hartford, on Saturday. Then, on Sunday, the Sound Tigers host Albany, a team on their heels, just two points behind the Sound Tigers, in the East Division.

Friday vs. Binghamton: After winning twice in Broome County, N.Y., the Sound Tigers will try to make it three-for-three against the East Division-rival Senators. Comeau looks to continue his magic against the Senators. He has a goal and six assists in two games against the Sens. The Sound Tigers have ended each of their last two home games with thrilling shootouts.

Saturday at Hartford: The Sound Tigers return to the Hartford Civic Center where they came back to win 6-3 behind a five-goal third period back on Oct. 13. Hartford has since won twice in Bridgeport, including once in a shootout.

Sunday vs. Albany: The River Rats feature high-scorer Keith Aucoin and former Sound Tiger Ben Guite. The Sound Tigers are 19-9-5-1 (wins, losses, ties, overtime losses) all-time against the River Rats. Albany, the long-time New Jersey Devils' top farm team, is currently affiliated with the Colorado Avalanche and defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.

In the community

Cool Fun: Last Wednesday's game against the Penguins was designated the People's Bank Cool Fun 101 game. The puck dropped at 11 a.m. for special school-day start time. Thousands of children from area schools had an opportunity to watch the game and took home work booklets that combined education and hockey for a fun, yet informative, trip to the Arena.

Please sign here: Sound Tiger players stick around to sign shirts, photos and other memorabilia in the main concourse behind Section 103 after every home game. Steve Regier and Frans Nielsen, both of whom scored goals during the weekend, are scheduled to sign after Friday's game with Binghamton. Luch Aquino and Masi Marjamaki are slated for Sunday's game. All autograph sessions are subject to change.

Schedule and ticket information

For schedule and ticket information, including group discount opportunities, visit soundtigers.com or call 334-4625.

View or listen to the game

Hear Phil Giubileo call all the play-by-play by visiting soundtigers.com clicking on the listen to the game link. Fans may also watch the fast-paced action on the b2 Networks by visiting soundtigers.com and clicking on the b2 link on the far right side of the main Web page.

Player of the week nominee

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers nominate Robert Nilsson for the CCM/Vector AHL Player of the Week award. Nilsson had four goals and three assists in three games. He set up Blake Comeau's overtime-winner at Hershey on Saturday to cap off a weekend in which the Sound Tigers went 2-0 on the road. Nilsson had an assist to help the Sound Tigers earn a point in Wednesday's 3-2 shootout loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He scored twice and added an assist in Friday's 5-1 win at Worcester, and repeated the two-goal, assist effort in the 4-3 OT win at Hershey on Saturday. Nilsson has seven goals this year and five goals and four assists in his last five games.

Off ice and personal with:

Eric Boguniecki Boguniecki, a New Haven/ West Haven Conn. native, is a centerman for the Sound Tigers. He scored a goal in his Sound Tiger debut, Oct. 27 at Providence, after being traded to the Islanders' organization from Columbus. Boguniecki was selected by the St. Louis Blues round in the eighth round, 193rd overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft.

On the jersey: He has worn No. 33 since college.

Early hockey memory: "When you first start out you always have those early morning practices, sometimes 5 o'clock. I remember getting up very early and going to the rink, sometimes sleeping on the way. You always dreaded those early ones," Boguniecki said with a laugh.

Best part about playing hockey: "There's no better feeling than scoring a goal, and being around the guys and winning is a great feeling," he said.

When he's off the ice: Plays guitar and spends time with his family, including his children Hadley and Paige.

Food of choice: Pizza

Teams he roots for: New York Yankees and New England Patriots

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American Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2006


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