AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Shorthanded Sound Tigers Beat P-Bruins 3-2

March 17, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


PROVIDENCE, RI - Skating two men short because of recalls and injuries, the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, rallied from a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 road win over the Providence Bruins Friday. It was the Sound Tigers' first-ever win at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Rhode Island and also upped their record to 2-1 so far on a stretch of seven straight road games.

Providence took the first lead of the game at 1-0 as former Sound Tiger Ben Guite helped set up a shorthanded goal by Eric Nickulas, his eighth tally overall on the season, with 1:10 left in the first period.

The Bruins doubled their advantage to 2-0 with another special-teams goal, this one on the power play, when Pascal Pelletier scored his 15th of the year off assists from Nickulas and Jonathan Sigalet 2:56 into the middle frame.

Less than a minute after the P-Bruins grabbed the two-goal lead, the Sound Tigers took the first of two penalties that put them on the wrong end of a five-on-three situation for 1:14, but they were able to kill both ends of the power play.

Evgeny Tunik, who earned a power play for the Sound Tigers in the first period, drew another call just shy of the mid-point of the second period, but the Sound Tigers never made it to the advantage because Jeff Hamilton rifled home his 23rd goal of the season to cut the deficit to 2-1 at the 9:52 mark with Matt Koalska and Tunik notching the assists on the play.

The Sound Tigers tied the score at 2-2 when David Masse wristed a rebound of his own shot past Providence goaltender Jordan Sigalet for his 14th goal of the season off an assist from Chris Thompson 7:16 into the third period.

After netminder Wade Dubielewicz, who made 35 saves, came up with several big stops, Harlan Pratt moved the puck up the right wing to Joe Tallari who pulled up and floated a pass into the slot where Tunik jammed home his third goal of the season with 2:33 left to play giving the Sound Tigers their first lead of the evening at 3-2.

The Bruins pulled Jordan Sigalet, who made 14 saves, in favor of an extra attacker with 1:04 left to play and went on the power play with 55.4 seconds left on the clock but were unable to score despite the six-on-four skating advantage as Dubielewicz made several stops to seal the win.

Tunik was the first star of the game, Nickulas the second and Masse the third. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 4 on the power play and won despite being outshot 37-17. Providence was 1 for 8 on the advantage.

Rob Collins was recalled by the Islanders Friday afternoon joining nine other players from the Sound Tigers' Clear Day Roster who are currently up with the big club.

The Sound Tigers will hit the mid point of a stretch of seven straight road games when they visit the Portland Pirates tomorrow, Saturday, March 18th, at 7:05 p.m. All Sound Tigers games are web-cast live at www.soundtigers.com. Fans can also watch all AHL games live on the Internet via the B2 Networks pay per view.

The Sound Tigers' next home game at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard will be on Wednesday, March 29th when they host the Hershey Bears at 7:05 p.m. Information regarding Sound Tigers ticket packages, promotions and upcoming games is available on-line at www.soundtigers.com, by emailing info@soundtigers.com or by calling 203-334-GOAL.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2006


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