Sound Tigers Beat Worcester 4-1
January 31, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, CT â The American Hockey League's 2001-02 Regular Season Champion and Eastern Conference Playoff Champion Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, defeated the Worcester IceCats at home Friday. Raffi Torres, reassigned by the Islanders to Bridgeport along with Eric Godard earlier today, led the Sound Tigers with three goals while Jeff Hamilton and Brandon Smith had two point each, and Goaltender Scott Stirling made 32 saves and notched an assist in his first start for the Sound Tigers.
After a scoreless first period, Worcester took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Eric Nickulas just 1:28 into the second period, his 12th goal of the season, assisted by Jason Dawe. Nickulas was assigned to Worcester by the NHL's St. Louis Blues earlier in the day.
Hamilton evened the score at 1-1 with his tenth goal of the year at 14:49 of the middle frame, just two seconds after a power play had expired, assisted by Eric Manlow and Smith. Torres gave the Sound Tigers a 2-1 lead on a power-play goal, his second of the game and tenth of the year, on assists from Smith and Stirling at 17:56.
Torres put Bridgeport up 3-1 3:37 into the third period on assists from Hamilton Martin Chabada. He then completed the hat trick, the Sound Tigers' first since last March 29th, with his 12th goal of the season, tapping a pass from Justin Mapletoft into an empty net for the insurance goal at 19:36.
Bridgeport was 1 for 5 on the power play, 4 for 4 on the penalty kill and had a 35-33 shots on goal advantage. Stirling finished the game with 32 saves while Worcester's Cody Rudkowsky made 31 stops in a losing effort. Torres was the first star of the game, Stirling the second, and Hamilton the third.
The Sound Tigers will visit the Albany River Rats tomorrow at 7 p.m. in their last game before the AHL All-Star break. All Sound Tigers' games are broadcast live on "The ZONE" FOX Sports Radio 1300 and at www.soundtigers.com. WSTC/WNLK 1400/1350 also carries road games.
The Sound Tigers will return to Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard next Friday and Saturday when they host the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Saint John Flames.
Sound Tigers 2002-03 tickets are on sale at the Arena at Harbor Yard box office, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 203-368-1000. Information regarding Sound Tigers flex packs, group discounts, birthday packages and season ticket packages is also 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 or log on to www.soundtigers.com as well.
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