AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Fall To Wolf Pack 2-1

Published on October 16, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, Conn - Mats Zuccarello's goal with 4:58 remaining in the third period proved to be the game-winner, as Chad Johnson made 21 saves and the Hartford Wolf Pack defeated the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2-1 in front of 6,217 at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Hartford's record now stands at 2-1-0-1. The loss was the Sound Tigers third consecutive defeat, dropping them to 1-3-0-0.

Tonight's contest was the first of 10 regular season games between the in-state rivals. Just as one would expect in any rivalry, the intensity was high as soon as the puck dropped. The story of the first period was the rough nature of play from the get-go. Each team took six penalties in the opening period, the majority of which came during a couple of scrums in front of the benches. Despite the two sides throwing their weight around, neither side was able to put the puck in the net, and after one period of play the game was scoreless.

For the first time this season, the opposing team scored first against the Sound Tigers. Following a series of penalties, the Wolf Pack found themselves with a 4-on-3 advantage. Hartford cycled the puck in the Sound Tigers zone to Jeremy Williams, who fired a one-timer from the right faceoff circle. The puck slipped between Sound Tigers goalie Mikko Koskinen's midsection and right arm and fluttered into the net. It was Williams' second goal of the season, and Hartford had a 1-0 lead.

The score stayed that way until the 7:17 mark of the third period, when the Sound Tigers earned a hard-fought goal to tie the game at one. Defenseman Anton Klementyev made a great individual effort to keep the puck in the Hartford zone, and it eventually slipped loose into the slot to forward Rhett Rakhshani. Rakhshani knocked the bouncing puck past Hartford netminder Chad Johnson for his first career professional goal, and the game was tied 1-1.

However, it was Hartford who would deliver the final blow in what was an extremely physical contest. Evgeny Gratchev skated in along the far side boards, avoided hits from Mark Katic and Matt Martin, and found Mats Zuccarello all alone in the slot. Zuccarello's shot found the top right corner of the net for his second goal of the season, and Hartford had the 2-1 lead. The Sound Tigers had opportunities with a power play following the goal, but Johnson made timely saves down the stretch to preserve the one-goal victory for the Wolf Pack.

The Sound Tigers close out the weekend tomorrow afternoon when they play host to the Portland Pirates at 3 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 16, 2010


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