Sound Tigers Lose 5-4 At Home To Hershey
February 28, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, CT â 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, lost 5-4 to the Hershey Bears at home Friday. The loss snapped the Sound Tigers' five-game winning streak and seven-game, unbeaten-in-regulation streak at 6-0-0-1. Hershey remains one of three teams Bridgeport has yet to beat during regular-season play along with the Manitoba Moose and Norfolk Admirals.
The teams skated to a 2-2 tie during the first period. Brian Willsie put the Bears on the board with a power-play goal, his team-leading 26th tally of the season, at 7:31 assisted by Mark Freer and Eric Bertrand. Raffi Torres evened the score at 1-1 just 46 seconds later, putting his 16th goal of the season past Bears' Goaltender Phil Sauve, on an assist from Justin Mapletoft. Jordan Krestanovich gave Hershey a 2-1 lead with his 10th goal of the season, assisted by Vaclav Nedorost and Steve Brule, at 12:14. A power-play goal by Mapletoft, his 10th marker of the season, tied the game at 2-2 at 14:13 assisted by Trent Hunter and Mattias Weinhandl.
Hershey regained the lead at 3-2 off Nedorost's first goal of the season at 4:02 of the second period, assisted by Willsie and Bertrand. Jeff Paul then put the Bears up 4-2 with his second goal of the season at 5:36 of the middle frame on assists from Steve Moore and Brad Larsen. Jeff Hamilton pulled the Sound Tigers to within 4-3 with 2:14 left in the second period with his 15th goal of the season on assists from Hunter and Brandon Smith.
Bertrand gave the Bears a 5-3 lead with his 13th goal of the season on an assist from Willsie at 13:58 of the third period, but Martin Chabada blasted a slap shot right off a face-off win by Blaine Down for his ninth goal of the season with 4:28 remaining in the game to make it 5-4.
The Sound Tigers pulled Goaltender Stephen Valiquette in favor of an extra attacker with :57 left to play but were unable to tie the game.
The Sound Tigers were 1 for 5 on the power play extending their scoring streak on the advantage to five games. Hershey was 1 for 4 on the power play and outshot the Sound Tigers 33-26. Valiquette made 28 saves while Sauve stopped 22 shots. Bertrand was named first star of the game, Willsie second, and Mapletoft third star.
The Sound Tigers will host the Albany River Rats tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. and visit them Sunday at 4:00 p.m. All Sound Tigers' games are broadcast live on "The ZONE" FOX Sports Radio 1300 AM and at www.soundtigers.com. WSTC/WNLK 1400.
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