AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Smith's hat-trick helps Sound Tigers earn first victory of the season over Norfolk

Published on December 13, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


Norfolk, VA - Trevor Smith scored twice in the third period to go along with his tally in the second, completing his hat-trick and helping the Sound Tigers defeat the Norfolk Admirals, 6-4. Chris Lee and Rob Hennigar each scored first period tallies and Jeff Tambellini added his first goal of the season for the Sound Tigers. Justin Keller had two goals while his teammates Jason Ward and Chris Lawrence each added their first markers of the season for the Admirals. Steve Downie recorded an assist on each Admiral goal. Peter Mannino earned his eighth win of the season and helped to improve the Sound Tigers' record to 18-7-1-2.

For the second straight period, the Sound Tigers only needed 30 seconds into the period to score. Last night at the start of the third period, it was Kurtis McLean back-handing a shot past Norfolk starting goaltender Mike McKenna and tonight, it was Lee, giving the Sound Tigers the 1-0 lead early in the first. Jack Hillen led a rush up ice and dumped the puck into the right corner. Mike Iggulden beat his man to the puck and fed it to the point where Lee was waiting. The Sound Tiger defenseman back-pedaled along the blue-line and wristed a shot through McKenna for his first goal as a Sound Tiger. Hennigar, a late addition to the Sound Tigers' lineup, would give the Sound Tigers the 2-0 lead. Hillen skated the puck into the Admirals' zone and dropped a pass to Hennigar in the high slot. Hillen drove to the net, creating a screen and allowing Hennigar to snap his third goal of the season past McKenna. Iggulden also assisted on the tally coming 8:16 into the opening frame. Two minutes later, Norfolk would cut the Sound Tiger lead to 2-1 when Ward finished a back-door pass from Steve Downie. Mike Lundin also assisted on Ward's first goal of the season.

The reason Tambellini, the team's all-time leading scorer in a season, was loaned to the Sound Tigers was to rebuild his confidence in doing what he does best, score goals. At the 14:21 mark of the period, Tambellini finally scored his first tally of the season when he ripped a shot through McKenna's legs to regain the Sound Tiger two-goal advantage at 3-1. Before the period would end, the Admirals would cut the Sound Tigers' lead to 3-2. Downie stole the puck behind the net from Mannino and centered a pass to Lawrence for his first goal of the season. Jay Rosehill had the second assist on the marker coming with a minute and 30 seconds remaining.

Smith would score his 12th goal of the season 14:07 into the second period. Jeremy Colliton skated into the Norfolk zone along the left-wing board and snapped a shot on net. Smith, parked in front, redirected the shot as it slid past McKenna for the 4-2 Sound Tiger lead. Keller and Downie would hook up twice within a minute before the middle frame would expire to tie the game at 4-4. The goals were Keller's second and third tallies of the season while Vladimir Mihalik had the second assist on the game-tying goal at the 17:13 mark.

The two teams would battle in the third period for the game-winning goal but it was Smith burying his second tally of the game and 13th of the season with just under four minutes to play. Brett Skinner sent a seeing-eye shot from the point that McKenna made the initial save. Colliton was jamming in front and was able to put a shot on goal that McKenna turned aside but the rebound fell to his left where Smith pounced on the loose puck to give the Sound Tigers the 5-4 lead. With one second remaining, Smith would score his third goal of the game on an empty-net goal. Iggulden and Hillen had the assists on Smith's hat-trick goal.

Mannino earned the victory, keeping the Sound Tigers from losing their second straight game, with 21 saves while McKenna suffered the defeat, also stopping 21 shots. The Sound Tigers were 0-for-5 on the power-play and a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty-kill.

The Sound Tigers will return home tonight and begin their week of practice on Monday in preparation for the three-game home-stand beginning on Friday at 7 p.m. when they take on the Springfield Falcons. Saturday, the Sound Tigers will face-off against the Binghamton Senators at 7 p.m. for the first time this season at Arena at Harbor Yard. Sunday, the Sound Tigers will finish the weekend against the Lowell Devils at 4 p.m. Fans are encouraged to bring teddy bears for their annual Teddy Bear Toss. When the Sound Tigers score their first goal during the game, fans will have the opportunity to toss their teddy bears onto the ice. In the following week, the players will collect the bears and deliver them to local hospitals. For information or tickets to any upcoming Sound Tiger games, contact the team's front office at 203-334-GOAL or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.

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