AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Beaten 4-1 At Home By Springfield

February 11, 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, lost 4-1 at home to the Springfield Flacons Wednesday. All five of the game's goals were scored in the third period, including a pair by Springfield in the final half minute of play.

The first period belonged to the Falcons who had a 10-2 shots on goal advantage through the first 20 minutes.

After avoiding their overall-season mark for fewest shots in a period by just one in the opening frame, the Sound Tigers set their season mark for the most home-ice shots in a single period with an 18-8 advantage in the second. However, Springfield's All-Star Goaltender David LeNeveu was equal to the task each time.

The Falcons took the first lead of the contest just 3:00 into the third period on the second goal of the season by Kiel McLeod off an assist from Player / Assistant Coach Gary Shuchuk. It marked the latest first goal in a game involving the Sound Tigers this season.

Returning to the lineup for the first time since suffering an eye injury on January 3rd, Sound Tigers All-Star and leading scorer Jeff Hamilton tied the score at 1-1 with his team-leading 26th goal and 43rd point at the 8:12 mark off assists from Cole Jarrett and Justin Mapletoft. Jarrett is now on a two-game assist streak while Mapletoft is on a five-game point streak with helpers in each of the last three games. However, Springfield regained the lead just 1:36 later on the fifth goal of the season by Jason Jaspers off assists from Igor Knyazev and Chris Ferraro.

The Sound Tigers pulled Netminder Dieter Kochan, who began the night on a three-game unbeaten streak, in favor of an extra attcker with just over a half-minute to play, but Frantisek Lukes slapped a turnaround, one-time shot the length of the ice and into the empty cage with 24.4 seconds left to play for his fourth goal of the year, an unassisted marker, to make it 3-1. Springfield then added one more goal with 2.5 seconds left on the clock as Trevor Gillies hustled through the slot to redirect a Nick Lent feed for his second goal of the season to ice the win at 4-1.

LeNeveu was the first star of the game with 28 saves, Jaspers was the second star with the game-winning goal, and Hamilton was the third star. Kochan made 32 saves as the Sound Tigers were outshot 36-29, including 18-9 in the third period. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 4 on the power play while the Falcons were 0 for 2.

The Sound Tigers will visit Springfield this Saturday at 7:35 p.m. in the second and final meeting of the regular-season series then return home to host the Hershey Bears this Sunday at 4:05 p.m. Both of this weekend ‚¬â„¢s games will be web cast live at www.soundtigers.com. Sunday ‚¬â„¢s game will also be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM pending the completion of University of Connecticut basketball.

Sound Tigers individual-game tickets are on sale at Bridgeport's Arena at 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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American Hockey League Stories from February 11, 2004


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