Sound Tigers Comeback Falls Short in Overtime Loss to Whale
March 3, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Mar. 3, 2013) - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers netted two third-period goals to force overtime, but Logan Pyett scored 2:17 into the extra session to give the Connecticut Whale a 3-2 win at Webster Bank Arena in front of 8,203 fans on Sunday afternoon. With the win, the Whale improves to 27-23-5-2. The Sound Tigers earn a point with the overtime loss as their record moves to 23-24-4-4.
Pyett's overtime game-winner came after the Sound Tigers defense got caught in the offensive zone, creating a 2-on-1 for the Whale. The veteran defenseman held the puck as he skated into the left circle before snapping a shot beneath Sound Tigers goaltender Kenny Reiter's blocker to give the visitors the extra point.
The Sound Tigers strong play in the third period brought them back from a 2-0 hole to force overtime. Seven seconds after Benn Ferreiro's tripping penalty expired, Brock Nelson sent the rebound from Dallas Jackson's left-point drive past Whale goaltender Cam Talbot to cut the Sound Tigers' deficit to 2-1 just 1:43 into the final period.
Bridgeport dictated much of the play in the final frame, sustaining possessions in the Whale zone for extended periods of time, and was finally rewarded with a game-tying goal with 4:18 left in regulation. Nate McIver's pinch along the right half-wall forced the puck behind the Whale net to Brandon DeFazio, who backhanded the puck into open space in the slot. Scott Campbell gathered the puck and sent a shot over Talbot's blocker for his third goal of the season to even the score at two.
The Whale struck first blood 15:06 into the first period off of a fortunate bounce. Mike Vernace's drive from the left point bounced off of two Sound Tigers defensemen before landing on the stick of Micheal Haley, who sent a shot through Kenny Reiter's five-hole for his ninth goal of the season. Chris Kreider pushed the Whale lead to two with 1:44 left in the second period, firing a rebound from Brandon Segal's redirection past Reiter for a power play goal.
Reiter made 24 saves in the loss, while Talbot stopped 31 shots to earn the win.
The Sound Tigers return to action on Wednesday night when they travel to Manchester to face the Monarchs at 7:00 p.m.
NOTES: The Sound Tigers went 0-for-3 on the power play, and are 0-for-37 over the last nine games ... Nate McIver now has a three-game point streak with an assist in Sunday afternoon's game ... The Sound Tigers are 5-3-1-0 against the Whale this season ... The Sound Tigers outshot the Whale 28-17 over the final two periods and overtime; they outshot the Adirondack Phantoms 31-11 over the final two periods of Saturday night's 4-3 win.
THREE STARS
1. CTW: Logan Pyett
2. CTW: Cam Talbot
3. BRI: Kenny Reiter
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