AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Lose 3-1 In Norfolk

Published on March 27, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


NORFOLK, VA - The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, lost 3-1 on the road to the Norfolk Admirals Saturday and are now 2-4 in the first six games of a stretch of seven straight on the road, including four straight losses.

After a scoreless first period in which Norfolk had a 14-3 shots on goal advantage, the Sound Tigers took the first three shots of the middle period, but the Admirals weathered the storm and took charge with three unanswered goals in a span of 3:52.

Blake Bellefeuille scored his fifth of the season at four-on-four strength off assists from Igor Radulov and Lasse Kukkonen at 9:23 to make it 1-0, and Jason Morgan notched his 11th of the year on the power play off assists from Carsen Germyn and Marty Wilford at 11:41 to make it 2-0.

Sound Tigers Head Coach Greg Cronin was assessed a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct five seconds after the Morgan goal for arguing from the bench, and Norfolk took advantage as Yorick Treille scored on the ensuing power play, his 12th goal of the season, off assists from Ajay Baines and Morgan at 13:15 to make it 3-0.

Jeff Hamilton put the Sound Tigers on the scoreboard and back to within 3-1 with his 38th goal of the season, an unassisted tally, with 7:17 left in the game. The goal was the 60th of Hamilton's career as a Sound Tiger moving him into a tie with Trent Hunter for the team's all-time goal-scoring record, but the Sound Tiers have requested an AHL review of goal earlier in the season that would switch credit for one of Hamilton's markers to teammate Blaine Down. The 38 goals by Hamilton this season are the most in a single season by a Sound Tiger. Hunter held the original mark of 30, scoring that many in both 2001-02 and 2002-03.

The Sound Tigers called a timeout and pulled Goaltender Dieter Kochan in favor of an extra attacker inside the final half-minute of play but could not score.

Morgan was the first star of the game, Bellefeuille the second and Wilford the third. Norfolk was 2 for 7 on the power play and had a 35-16 shots on goal advantage. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 7 on the power play. Admirals Netminder Michael Leighton made 15 saves while Kochan stopped 32 shots in a losing effort.

The Sound Tigers will finish the stretch of seven straight road games when they visit Norfolk again tomorrow at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast live at www.soundtigers.com and on 600 WICC-AM. The Sound Tigers' next home game will be this Wednesday, March the 31st when they host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:05 p.m.

Sound Tigers individual-game tickets are on sale at the Harbor Yard box office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and on all game days, as well as on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 203-368-1000.

Information regarding Sound Tigers season tickets, partial plans, flex packs, group discounts, birthday parties, suite packages and sponsorship opportunities is available by calling 203-334-GOAL or logging on to www.soundtigers.com.

Groups, organizations, companies, etc. that are interested in having a member of the Sound Tigers appear at an event are also invited to call 203-334-GOAL or email info@soundtigers.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2004


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