AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Cruise Past Hershey 4-1

Published on December 15, 2004 under 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, defeated the Hershey Bears 4-1 at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard on Wednesday. Led by an impressive performance by the line of Kevin Colley, Rob Collins and Justin Papineau, the Sound Tigers won their fourth game in a row at home.

After dominating the early action, including a pair of scoring chances by Justin Papineau, the Sound Tigers once again took an early lead at home. Ryan Kraft scored his fourth goal of the season, his first since October 24th; a span of 18 games, at 4:23 of the first period to make it 1-0. Keith Aldridge earned the only assist on the play.

The Sound Tigers extended their lead to 2-0 at 13:09 of the first period on Papineau's sixth goal of the season. On the play, Rob Collins raced into the Hershey zone, put on the breaks and found Colley in the high slot. Colley deked around Bears goalie Tom Lawson and fed Papineau who swatted in the puck to double the Sound Tigers lead. The play began when Papineau moved the puck up ice while falling down after being checked inside his own blue line.

Hershey, which gave up numerous scoring chances early in the game, was held without a shot on goal for the first 12:46 of the first period and was outshot 17-6 in the frame.

The Bears cut the lead to 2-1 at 13:37 of the second period on Eric Perrin's fifth goal of the season. Just six seconds after Aldridge was called for holding, Jaime Rivers ripped a shot from the left point on the power play that deflected off the glass and right to the stick of Perrin who found the empty net, cutting the lead in half. Marek Svatos and Rivers picked up helpers on the goal.

The Sound Tigers regained a two-goal advantage at 16:12 of the second period on rookie Chris Campoli's second goal of the season. Jim Campbell, who hit Campoli with a pass in front of the net, and Sean Bergenheim picked up assists on the goal. Much like Papineau's goal, Campoli started the play by moving the puck up ice while he was falling down in his own end of the rink.

The Sound Tigers put the game away at 18:30 of the second period when the team-leading tenth goal of the season and sixth in the last five games for Rob Collins made it 4-1. Colley took a pass from Campoli and drove hard to the net, the puck then rebounded to Collins who is now on a three-game goal streak and a five-game point streak. Campoli is now on a five-game assist streak as well.

For the first time since a 1-0 home win over the Albany River Rats on March 24, 2002, the Sound Tigers did not have a power play. Hershey was 1 for 3 on the advantage. The Sound Tigers outshot the Bears 36-23.

Colley earned the game's first star with two assists. Collins and Campoli earned the second and third stars respectively with a goal and an assist apiece. Wade Dubielewicz made 22 saves for the win while Lawson made 32 stops in a losing effort.

The Sound Tigers will head on the road for a two-game weekend trip to play the Binghamton Senators this Friday and the Portland Pirates this Saturday. Both games will be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM and www.soundtigers.com.

Information regarding Sound Tigers ticket 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 invited to call 203-334-GOAL.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2004


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