AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Earn Three Points In Three Games

March 1, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


The Sound Tigers earned three points in three games last week losing 5-2 on the road to the Hartford Wolf Pack Wednesday, beating the Albany River Rats 3-1 on the road Friday and losing 3-2 in overtime to the Providence Bruins at home Saturday. The Sound Tigers finished last week in second place in the East Division with 74 points and a 31-16-8-4 record, including 14-7-5-2 at home and 17-9-3-2 on the road.

WED FEB 25th at HAR, 5-2 L: The Sound Tigers were done in by another strong first period as Hartford grabbed a 4-0 lead in the opening frame on goals by BRANDON CULLEN, JEFF HEEREMA, LAYNE ULMER and BENOIT DUSABLON. Ulmer's goal was scored shorthanded and chased WADE DUBIELEWICZ from the Sound Tigers' net in favor of DIETER KOCHAN. BRANDON SMITH and DEREK BEKAR scored, Bekar added an assist, and JEFF HAMILTON had two assists in the second period for the Sound Tigers, but DOMINIC MOORE scored the lone third-period goal for the Wolf Pack. The Sound Tigers were 1 for 4 on the power play while Hartford was 0 for 2 and had a 26-24 shots on goal advantage.

FRI FEB 27th at ALB, 3-1 W: JUSTIN MAPLETOFT put the Sound Tigers on the scoreboard with a power-play goal 1:12 into the third period, JEFF HAMILTON added the eventual game-winner 2:30 later and his franchise-single-season-record 31st goal with 5:28 left to play, ROB COLLINS assisted on both of Hamilton's markers, and DIETER KOCHAN made 25 saves. The Sound Tigers were 1 for 4 on the power play, 1 for 1 on the penalty kill and had a 28-26 shots on goal advantage. The win snapped a three-game losing streak, as well as a two-game road skid. It was also the Sound Tigers' single-season-record-tying 17th road win of the year.

SAT FEB 28th vs. PRO, 3-2 OTL: COLE JARRETT scored his first professional goal, shorthanded, to tie the game at 1-1 in the second period, and ALAIN NASREDDINE added his first of the season, on the power play, to tie the score at 2-2 early in the third period, but Providence's MILAN JURCINA scored 1:43 into the overtime. KRIS VERNARSKY and ZDENEK KUTLAK also scored for the Bruins. DIETER KOCHAN made 34 saves in a losing effort. The Sound Tigers were 1 for 6 on the power play and 5 for 5 on the penalty kill. Providence had a 37-31 shots on goal advantage.

SOUND TIGERS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – RW/C JEFF HAMILTON

Hamilton assisted on both of the team's goals in Wednesday's loss in Hartford then added the game-winner and an insurance tally in the third period of Friday's come-from-behind win in Albany. The two goals tied and then broke the all-time, single-season, franchise, goal-scoring record, which was set and equaled by TRENT HUNTER with 30 in both 2001-02 and 2002-03. With 31 goals so far this season and 22 last year, Hamilton has 53 all-time as a Sound Tiger, seven shy of Hunter's career mark of 60. He leads all AHL scorers with 31 goals and 11 game-winning goals and also leads the Sound Tigers with 51 points and is tied for the team lead among active players with 20 assists in 46 games this season.

THIS WEEK – Homestand Continues With Four Games Including Three Game Weekend The Sound Tigers will play four home games this week, including three in three nights this weekend.

WED MAR 3rd vs. LOW, 7:05 p.m.: This will be the fourth and final meeting of the teams, the second at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 6-2-1 all-time, 2-0-1 this season, versus Lowell who begins this week in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 58 points and a 24-25-6-4 record, including 11-17-3-1 on the road. The Lock Monsters do not play until Wednesday.

FRI MAR 5th vs. WIL, 7:35 p.m.: This will be the fifth of eight meetings of the teams, the third of four in Bridgeport, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 4-2 all-time, 2-2 this season, versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton who begins this week tied with the Binghamton Senators for fifth place, the final playoff spot, in the East Division with 60 points and a 24-23-7-5 record, including 11-11-5-3 on the road. This will be the Penguins' first visit to Harbor Yard since they snapped the Sound Tigers' franchise-record 20-game unbeaten streak and 22-game unbeaten-in-regulation streak with a 3-2 win on December 17th. They will host Binghamton Wednesday.

SAT MAR 6th vs. HAR, 7:05 p.m.: This will be the eighth of ten meetings of the teams, the fourth of five in Bridgeport, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 15-10-2 all-time, 3-3-1 with a home overtime loss this season, versus Hartford who begins this week in first place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference with 78 points, just four points behind the League-leading Grand Rapids Griffins, and a 33-16-10-2 record, including 15-9-4-2 on the road and 7-0-2-1 in the last ten games. The Wolf Pack will host the Utah Grizzlies Wednesday.

SUN MAR 7th vs. BIN, 4:05 p.m.: This will be the seventh of eight meetings of the teams, the fourth and final in Bridgeport, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 6-5-1 all-time, 3-3 this season, versus the Senators who begin this week tied with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for fifth place in the East Division with 60 points and a 26-28-6-2 record, including 8-17-4-0 on the road. Binghamton will visit Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Wednesday and the Rochester Americans Friday.

SOUND TIGERS STREAKS

The Sound Tigers have scored on the power play in four straight games going 4 for 21, 19%, in that time. • C BEN GUITE (3a) is on a two-game assist streak. • D ALAIN NASREDDINE (1g,1a) is on a two-game point streak.

SOUND TIGERS TRANSACTIONS

D JAY LEACH was released from a professional tryout contract Friday. • RW ERIC GODARD was recalled by the Islanders Wednesday. • LW MIKE SOUZA, who played in Bridgeport last season, signed a PTO last Friday. • RW/C BRENT GAUVREAU signed a PTO Monday, January 26th. • C JUSTIN MAPLETOFT was reassigned by the Islanders Wednesday, January 21st. • LW DEREK BEKAR was reassigned by the Islanders Friday, January 16th. • C ERIC MANLOW, D SVEN BUTENSCHON, G RICK DiPIETRO and RW MATTIAS WEINHANDL remain on Islanders recall.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR & PROMOTIONAL NEWS

The Sound Tigers collected over six-thousand diapers and 300 packs of baby wipes, and Playtex donated ten boxes of baby bottles during "Connecticut's Largest Baby Shower" in conjunction with Bridgeport Hospital and BJ's Wholesale Club this past Saturday. • The MILL HILL SCHOOL PTA and REDDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTA raised over $1,200 and over $300 respectively through the sale of tickets to this past Saturday's home game. • The Sound Tigers will visit ten different schools this week, including nine tomorrow as part of "Read Across America Day" (reference additional release or www.soundtigers.com). • The Team Mascot STORM will visit Race Brook School in Orange tomorrow at 11:45 a.m. and McKinley School in Fairfield this Friday at 8:30 a.m. to help promote ticket-sales fundraisers for both schools. • WWE Superstar RANDY ORTON will appear at this Friday's game. • This weekend will be "Scout Appreciation Weekend" with special patches for all scouts who attend in uniform, while supplies last. There will be a "Scout Sleepover" Saturday night. Space is limited for the sleepover; additional information available by calling 203-334-GOAL. • Sunday will be "Norwalk Family Night" with specially-priced tickets for city residents. • Junior Middleweight Championship Boxer TRAVIS SIMMS of Norwalk will also appear at Sunday's game. • Murphy's Law Bar & Grill will present the fourth of five Sound Tigers trading card set giveaways; featuring CAIL MacLEAN, JUSTIN MAPLETOFT, ALAIN NASREDDINE and TOMI PETTINEN; when Providence returns on Wednesday, March 10th at 7:05 p.m. • March 10th will also be the next "Family Four Pack Night". • The Stamford Advocate will present "Islanders Appreciation Weekend" on Saturday, March 13th and Sunday, March 14th with a RICK DiPIETRO bobblehead giveaway and a special jersey auction on that Sunday.

SOUND TIGERS ON THE AIR

All Sound Tigers games are web cast live at www.soundtigers.com. This Wednesday's game and this Friday's game will also be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM. Saturday's game may be broadcast live on WICC depending on the University of Connecticut basketball schedule. • Head Coach GREG CRONIN is interviewed live on WICC every Friday at 9:30 a.m. • Fans can email Voice of the Sound Tigers BILL McLAUGHLIN, who will respond live on the air during all broadcasts, via the links posted on the front page of www.soundtigers.com.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

The Sound Tigers are scheduled to practice at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard each day this week through Saturday at 10 a.m. each day. Please call 203-334-GOAL to confirm practice times and locations or with any special media requests.

Check out the Bridgeport Islanders Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central