AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Beat Binghamton 3-2

Published on October 24, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, CT – The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, killed six of seven power plays, including back-to-back five-minute majors in the second period, to beat the Binghamton Senators 3-2 at home Sunday. The Sound Tigers improved to 4-2 with the win that marked the end of a stretch in which they played five of six games in Bridgeport to start the season.

Ryan Kraft made it 1-0 Sound Tigers just 2:48 into the game with his third goal of the season off assists from Matt Koalska and Sean Bergenheim. Koalska now has points in two straight games. The Sound Tigers doubled their lead to 2-0 on a delayed-penalty, their second such play this year, as Chris Campoli notched the first goal of his professional career off assists from Kevin Colley and Bergenheim with 8:37 left in the opening frame.

Binghamton pulled to within 2-1 as Antoine Vermette scored his second goal of the season, on the power play, off assists from Jesse Fibiger and Charlie Stephens 3:38 into the second period.

The Sound Tigers were forced to kill the two majors when Jim Campbell was called for slashing at 4:49 and Eric Godard was whistled for boarding at 13:04. Both players were also assessed game misconducts. Ironically, Godard was the player chosen to serve Campbell's major. Graham Belak served Godard's penalty.

The Sound Tigers regained the two-goal lead with 47.4 seconds left in the second period as Justin Mapletoft scored his first of the season chipping home the rebound of a Bergenheim shot. Bergenheim and Koalska assisted on the play.

Goaltender Dieter Kochan, who has made at least 30 saves in all three starts this season, including 31 Sunday, kept it a two-goal game when he denied Denis Hamel on a breakaway at the tail end of a Sound Tigers' power play early in the third period. That stop proved to be the difference in the game as Senators Captain Chris Kelly scored his first goal of the season off an assist from Grant Potulny with 4:27 left to play.

Binghamton pulled Netminder Ray Emery in favor of an extra attacker with 1:13 on the clock but could not tie the game. Emery finished with 26 saves.

Bergenheim was the first star of the game, Kochan the second and Koalska the third. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 3 on the power play while the Senators were 1 for 7 and had a 33-29 shots on goal advantage.

The Sound Tigers will begin a stretch of five straight road games when they visit the Philadelphia Phantoms this Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. The game will be played at the Wachovia Center, which is the home of the Phantoms' NHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Flyers, and will be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM and at www.soundtigers.com beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Information regarding Sound Tigers ticket packages and sponsorship opportunities is available by calling 203-334-GOAL or logging on to www.soundtigers.com. Groups, organizations, companies, etc. that are interested in having a member of the Sound Tigers appear at an event are invited to call 203-334-GOAL.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 24, 2004


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