AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Finish Season Long Eight Game Homestand

Published on March 15, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


The Sound Tigers went 2-1 in the final three games of an eight-game homestand last week blanking the Providence Bruins 3-0 Wednesday, outlasting the Hartford Wolf Pack 4-3 Saturday and losing 2-1 to the Manchester Monarchs Sunday. They were 3-3-1-1 on the homestand and finished last week in second place in the East Division with 81 points and a 34-19-9-4 record, including 17-10-6-2 at home and 17-9-3-2 on the road where they will play their next seven games.

WED MAR 10th vs. PRO, 3-0 W: JUSTIN MAPLETOFT and RYAN KRAFT had a goal and an assist apiece, MIKE SOUZA scored once, COLE JARRETT had two assists, and WADE DUBIELEWICZ made 24 saves for his seventh shutout of the season, his second in as many appearances. Both teams were 0 for 3 on the power play, and the Sound Tigers won despite being outshot 24-22.

SAT MAR 13th vs. HAR, 4-3 W: JUSTIN MAPLETOFT scored once, JEFF HAMILTON had three goals and an assist, BLAINE DOWN had three assists, and WADE DUBIELEWICZ made 26 saves. Hamilton scored twice on the power play, including the game-winning goal with 13.5 seconds left in regulation. The Sound Tigers were 3 for 12 on the advantage while Hartford was 1 for 5. The shots on goal were tied at 29. (see Team Leaders about possible scoring changes)

SUN MAR 14th vs. MCH, 2-1 L: MICHAEL CAMMALLERI scored on Manchester's first power play early in the second period to give the Monarchs a 1-0 lead, but BRANDON SMITH tied the score at 1-1 mid-way through the frame. However, PAVEL ROSA converted the back end of a five-on-three advantage 36 seconds into the third period for the deciding goal. DIETER KOCHAN made 21 saves in a losing effort as Manchester had a 23-20 shots on goal advantage and was 2 for 5 on the power play. The Sound Tigers were 1 for 6 on the advantage.

SOUND TIGERS PLAYER OF THE WEEK – C JUSTIN MAPLETOFT

Mapletoft finished last week on a four-game point streak after notching a goal and an assist in both wins on Wednesday and Friday, completing a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" with a fight Wednesday, and adding an assist in yesterday's loss before leaving the game with an ankle injury. He has ten goals, 13 assists, 23 points and 59 penalty minutes in 36 AHL games with Sound Tigers, as well as one goal, four assists, five points and six penalty minutes in 27 NHL games with the Islanders this season.

THIS WEEK – Sound Tigers Open Stretch Of Seven Straight Road Games The Sound Tigers will open a stretch of seven straight road games when they visit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Wednesday, Hartford Friday, the Binghamton Senators Saturday and the Albany River Rats Sunday.

WED MAR 17th at WIL, 7:05 p.m.: This will be the sixth of eight meetings of the teams, the third of four in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 5-2 all-time, 3-2 with an overtime loss on the road this season, versus the Penguins who are tied with the Norfolk Admirals for third place in the East Division with 71 points and a 29-25-8-5 record, including 15-12-3-2 at home. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will visit the Philadelphia Phantoms tomorrow to make up a game that was postponed earlier in the season.

FRI MAR 19th at HAR, 7:05 p.m.: This will be tenth and final meeting of the teams, the fifth in Hartford, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 16-10-3 all-time, 4-3-2 with an overtime loss at home this season, versus the Wolf Pack who are in first place in both the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference with 85 points and a 36-18-11-2 record, including 20-7-6-0 at home. Hartford will visit Hershey Wednesday.

SAT MAR 20th at BIN, 7:05 p.m.: This will be the eighth and final meeting of the teams, the fourth in Binghamton, this regular season. The Sound Tigers are 6-6-1 all-time, 3-4 this season, versus the Senators who are in sixth place in the East Division with 69 points and a 30-30-7-2 record, including 19-11-2-2 at home. Binghamton will host Albany Friday.

SUN MAR 21st at ALB, 5 p.m.: This will be the seventh of eight meetings of the teams, the third of three in Albany, this regular season. The River Rats also "hosted" the Sound Tigers at the Continental Airlines Arena in the New Jersey Meadowlands, which is the home of their NHL affiliate, the New Jersey Devils. The Sound Tigers are 13-4-5 all-time, 2-1-3 this season, versus the River Rats who are in seventh place in the East Division with 52 points and a 16-32-11-9 record, including 10-15-5-4 at home. Albany will host the Manitoba Moose Wednesday and visit Binghamton Friday.

SOUND TIGERS TEAM LEADERS (active roster)

Goals – JEFF HAMILTON, 36
Penalty Minutes – GRAHAM BELAK, 152
Assists – ERIC MANLOW, 26
Wins – WADE DUBIELEWICZ, 18
Points – JEFF HAMILTON, 59
Goals Against Average – WADE DUBIELEWICZ, 1.47
Plus / Minus – J. HAMILTON & E. MANLOW, +15
Save Percentage – WADE DUBIELEWICZ, .941

NOTE – The Sound Tigers have requested an AHL review for scoring changes on a pair of plays that will switch credit for one goal from JEFF HAMILTON to BLAINE DOWN and switch credit for one assist from BLAINE DOWN to ERIC MANLOW.

SOUND TIGERS SPECIAL TEAMS; AHL RANK

Power Play – 45 for 328, 13.7%; 19th
Shorthanded Goals Against – 8


Penalty Kill – 238 for 263, 90.5%; 1st
Shorthanded Goal For – 9

SOUND TIGERS STREAKS

G WADE DUBIELEWICZ has won two straight games and is unbeaten in his last four games at 3-0-1. • C JUSTIN MAPLETOFT (3g,3a) is on a four-game point streak.

SOUND TIGERS TRANSACTIONS

D TOMI PETTINEN was recalled by the Islanders Thursday, March 4th and reassigned last Wednesday. • RW/C BRENT GAUVREAU was released from a professional tryout contract last Tuesday. • The Islanders traded D ALAIN NASREDDINE to the Pittsburgh Penguins last Monday in exchange for RW STEVE WEBB who has been assigned to the Sound Tigers. • C ERIC MANLOW was reassigned by the Islanders Thursday, March 4th. • D JAY LEACH was re-signed to a PTO Wednesday, March 3rd. • LW MIKE SOUZA signed a PTO Friday, February 20th. • RW ERIC GODARD, D SVEN BUTENSCHON, G RICK DiPIETRO and RW MATTIAS WEINHANDL remain on NHL recall to the Islanders.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR & PROMOTIONAL NEWS

2004 Playoff Ticket Strip Packages are on sale now offering guaranteed seating, savings off box office prices and the first option to purchase 2004-05 season tickets. Playoff Strips are available to all fans and can be purchased by calling the Sound Tigers at 203-334-GOAL. • It will be "Bud Light on the Wallet Wednesday" with an appearance by the Bud Light Girls when the Sound Tigers return to Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard to host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday, March 31st at 7:05 p.m. College students can purchase $5 tickets to the game with proper identification, and there will be $2 beer specials at the concession stands. • Saturday and Sunday April 3rd and 4th will be "Police & Firefighter Appreciation Weekend". • Painter's Supply will present the fifth and final card set giveaway on Saturday, April 3rd when Hershey visits at 7:05 p.m. • The final "Family Four Pack Night" will be Thursday, April 8th when Norfolk visits at 7:05 p.m. "Family Four Packs" include four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas and can be purchased by calling 203-334-GOAL. • Thursday, April 8th will be "Stamford Family Fun Night" with specially-priced tickets for employees and residents of Stamford. • It will be "Fan Appreciation Night" when the Sound Tigers play their final regular-season home game Saturday, April 10th versus Philadelphia at 7:05 p.m.

SOUND TIGERS ON THE AIR

All games are web cast live at www.soundtigers.com. Wednesday's game will also be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM. • This week's remaining three games are also slated to be broadcast live on WICC but are subject to pre-emption by University of Connecticut basketball. • Head Coach GREG CRONIN is interviewed live on WICC every Friday at 9:30 a.m.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

The Sound Tigers will practice at Bridgeport's Wonderland of Ice tomorrow at 10 a.m. and bus to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the afternoon. The Sound Tigers are also scheduled to practice at Wonderland Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. before departing for the weekend road trip Friday afternoon. Call 203-334-GOAL to confirm practice times and locations.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2004


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