Sound Tigers Fall to Falcons 3-2 in Shootout
March 23, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Falcons forward Nick Drazenovic scored in regulation and netted the deciding goal in the shootout as Springfield defeated the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3-2 at the MassMutual Center on Friday night. With the win, Springfield improves to 31-29-3-3. The Sound Tigers earn a valuable point in the shootout loss as their record now stands at 32-24-3-6.
The Sound Tigers dictated much of the play in the opening period and did not allow the Falcons to put a shot on net while the teams skated five players aside. However, Springfield did have three power play chances in the second half of the opening frame. Kevin Poulin and the penalty kill unit held their ground as the Sound Tigers and Falcons entered their dressing rooms tied 0=2D0 after 20 minutes of play.
Drazenovic broke the scoreless tie 1:35 into the second period. The Sound Tigers held the puck in the Falcons zone, but a pass back to the blue line hopped over Mark Katic's stick, giving Springfield a 3-on-1 odd-man rush. After some quick passes back-and-forth through the slot, Drazenovic fired towards Poulin. The Sound Tigers netminder caught a good amount of the shot, but not enough as the puck trickled slowly over the goal line to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.
One of the newest Sound Tigers tied the game at one and snapped a Sound Tigers power play drought midway through the period. During a two-man advantage, Falcons netminder Paul Dainton sprawled to his left to deny Justin DiBenedetto from the right circle. However, rookie forward and 2011 New York Islanders fifth round draft pick John Persson jumped on the rebound and buried it for his first professional goal to tie the game midway through the period. The Falcons retook the lead with 4:08 left in the second period just as their power play expired. Springfield gathered the puck on a broken play entering the Sound Tigers zone and Andrew Joudrey snapped a shot past Poulin's glove to put the Falcons back in front 2-1.
The Sound Tigers top line worked hard after winning an offensive zone draw to even the score early in the third period. Tony Romano won the faceoff and eventually forced the puck deep behind the Springfield net to Tyler McNeely. McNeely sent the puck to Rhett Rakhshani at the right post, and the second-year forward hacked at the loose puck before finally sending it past Dainton. It was Rakhshani's 14 th goal of the season, and the game was tied at two with 15:55 left in the third period. Each side had chances down the stretch, but the Sound Tigers could not convert on a power play in the final 2:30 of the third period as the game went to overtime and eventually the shootout.
The Falcons chose to shoot first and took a 2-0 lead in the shootout as Cody Goloubef and Brent Regner beat Kevin Poulin. Rhett Rakhshani scored in the second half of the second round to make the tally 2-1 in the bonus round, but Nick Drazenovic slid the puck past Poulin's left pad in the first half of the fourth round. Tony Romano scored in the second half of the round to keep the shootout going, and Poulin denied Matt Calvert which set the stage for Mark Katic. However, Katic was stopped by Dainton and the Falcons came away with the extra point.
Poulin made 26 saves in regulation and overtime. Romano recorded two assists as well as a shootout goal for the Sound Tigers, who pull within three points of the Connecticut Whale with the point in the shootout loss.
The Sound Tigers return to Webster Bank Arena and open an eight-game homestand on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. against the Whale.
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