Sound Tigers Beat Portland 2-1 In OT
February 18, 2004 - 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, beat the Portland Pirates 2-1 in overtime at home Wednesday to sweep the season series two games to none. The Sound Tigers also beat the Pirates 3-2 in overtime in Portland on Saturday, January 31st. In fact, Portland is unbeaten-in-regulation in its last ten games at 6-0-1-3 with the two extra-session losses to the Sound Tigers, and another to the Lowell Lock Monsters, as the only defeats during that stretch.
After playing scoreless into the third period in each of their last three home games, the Sound Tigers took the first lead of the contest with 5:15 left in the opening frame Wednesday as Jeff Hamilton notched his team-leading 29th goal and 47th point off an assist from Team Captain Alan Letang. The lead held up through the end of the first and second periods despite a 22-8 shots on goal advantage for the Pirates, including 9-2 in the middle frame.
Portland tied the game with 7:04 left in regulation on a great individual effort by Francois Methot who emerged from behind the net and fired a turnaround wrist shot past Sound Tigers Goaltender Wade Dubielewicz for his third goal of the season, an unassisted tally.
Each team managed one shot on goal in the extra session, but the Sound Tigers made it count as Derek Bekar continued around the Pirates' net after missing his initial then took a feed from Martin Kariya and fired the puck over the glove of Portland Netminder Maxime Ouellet with 2:01 left in overtime. It was Bekar's 19th goal of the season, as well as Kariya's second assist in as many games since returning to the lineup from an injured left thumb.
The Sound Tigers and Pirates, who are the AHL's two least-penalized teams, combined for only three minor penalties and none in the third period with Portland going 0 for 2 on the power play while the Sound were 0 for 1.
Bekar was the third star of the game, Dubielewicz was the second with 28 saves, and Hamilton was the third. Ouellet, who was reassigned from the NHL ¬â¢s Washington Capitals earlier in the day, made 14 saves as the Pirates outshot the Sound Tigers 29-16.
The Sound Tigers will visit the Hartford Wolf Pack this Friday at 7:05 p.m. and return home to Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard to host the Norfolk Admirals this Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM and at www.soundtigers.com beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Sound Tigers individual-game tickets are on sale at the Harbor Yard box office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and on all game days, as well as on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 203-368-1000.
Information regarding Sound Tigers season tickets, partial plans, flex packs, group discounts, birthday parties, suite 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 also invited to call 203-334-GOAL or email info@soundtigers.com.
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