AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Clinch Home Ice For At Least One Round

April 3, 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, clinched home-ice advantage through at least the division semifinal round of the upcoming Calder Cup Playoffs with a 3-2 home win over the Hershey Bears Saturday. Blaine Down and Martin Kariya had a goal and an assist apiece, and Ben Guite notched a pair of helpers as the Sound Tigers ran their unbeaten streak to four games at 3-0-1.

If the Sound Tigers finish the regular season in first place in the East Division, they will host games one and two of the East Division Semifinals on Wednesday, April 21st and Friday, April 23rd. If the Sound Tigers finish the regular season in second place in the East Division, they will host games one and two of the East Division Semifinals on Thursday, April 15th and Saturday, April 17th.

Hershey opened Saturday's scoring with a shorthanded goal by Travis Brigley, his fifth marker of the season, 5:20 into the game and just 14 seconds in the first power play of the contest off assists from Gavin Morgan and Pascal Trepanier.

The Sound Tigers tied the game at 1-1 when Down scored his sixth goal of the year 1:19 into the middle frame off assists from Kariya and Guite. They took their first lead of the night 5:53 later on Jeff Hamilton's 41st goal of the season, his 63rd all-time as a Sound Tiger, off assists from Brandon Smith and Luke Curtin marking the second time in as many nights Smith and Curtin set up a goal by Hamilton. Hamilton is now on a three-game goal and point streak, and Curtin is now on a four-game assist and point streak.

The Bears tied the game at 2-2 5:10 into the third period on Chris Bala's 13th goal of the year off assists from Morgan and Mikhail Kuleshov, but the line of Down, Kariya and Guite came through for the Sound Tigers one more time as Kariya notched the game-winner, his sixth marker of the season, with 1:53 left to play off assists from Down and Guite.

Hershey pulled Goaltender Phil Sauve with 38 seconds left to play but could not tie the game.

Kariya was the first star of the game, Down was the second, and Guite was the third. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 7 on the power play while the Bears were 0 for 2. Sound Tigers Netminder Dieter Kochan made 33 saves to run his unbeaten streak to four games at 3-0-1 while Sauve made 28 as Hershey had a 35-31 shots on goal advantage.

The Sound Tigers will host the Albany River Rats tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. They will also host the Norfolk Admirals this coming Thursday at 7:05 p.m. and the Philadelphia Phantoms in a possible showdown for the East Division Championship next Saturday at 7:05 p.m. The Sound Tigers will finish the 2003-04 regular season next Sunday, April the 11th when they visit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a possible East Division Semifinal preview at 5 p.m. All Sound Tigers games are web cast live at www.soundtigers.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2004


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