AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Even Series With B-Sens

Published on May 2, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, CT - The American Hockey League's 2001-02 Regular Season Champion and Eastern Conference Playoff Champion Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, beat the Binghamton Senators 3-2 at home Friday to even their best-of-seven, playoff series at two games apiece. Trent Hunter broke a 2-2 tie with his team-leading seventh goal of the playoffs with :21.4 left in the third period.

Binghamton opened the scoring as Dennis Bonvie scored his second goal of the postseason 11:12 into the game on assists from Brad Smyth and Dean Melanson, but the Sound Tigers tied the game at 1-1 3:24 later as Hunter and Goaltender Rick DiPietro set up Justin Mapletoft's first goal of the playoffs.

Alan Letang, who missed game three Wednesday with a knee injury, gave the Sound Tigers their first lead at 2-1 with his first goal of the postseason, a four-on-four tally, 1:38 into the second period off assists by Mapletoft and Justin Papineau, but Binghamton tied the game at 2-2 :53 into the third period on Antoine Vermette's first goal of the playoffs off another assist by Smyth.

The Sound Tigers received a scare late in the third period when veteran Defenseman Brandon Smith left the game with an ankle injury, but they were able re-focus.

Eric Manlow dumped the puck into the Binghamton zone heading into the final half minute of regulation, and Martin Chabada pushed it through the slot where it popped into mid-air. Hunter then swatted the hip-high puck past Senators' Goaltender Ray Emery for the winning tally.

The Sound Tigers were 0 for 7 on the power play, 4 for 4 on the penalty kill and outshot Binghamton 29-25. DiPietro made 23 saves while Emery made 26 for the Senators. Hunter was the first star of the game, Mapletoft the second, and DiPietro the third.

Game five will be tomorrow in Binghamton at 7:05 p.m. Game six will be Monday in Bridgeport at 7:05 p.m. Game seven, if necessary, will be in Binghamton Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. All Sound Tigers' games are broadcast live on "News/Talk 960" WELI-AM and at www.soundtigers.com. WSTC/WNLK 1400/1350 AM also broadcasts road games.

Playoff-strip, ticket packages for all remaining Sound Tigers' postseason games are available by calling 203-334-GOAL. Sound Tigers' individual-game, playoff tickets are on sale at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard Box office, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 203-368-1000. Information regarding Sound Tigers' flex packs, group discounts, birthday parties and season ticket packages is also available by calling 203-334-GOAL or logging on to www.soundtigers.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from May 2, 2003


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