AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Lose Road Finale 5-3 In Albany

Published on April 13, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


ALBANY, NY - The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, lost their final road game of the 2004-05 season 5-3 Wednesday as the Albany River Rats improved their unbeaten-in-regulation streak to nine games at 8-0-1.

Albany took a 2-0 lead with a pair of goals on either side of the mid-point of the first period. Barry Tallackson, a 2002 draft pick of the River Rats' NHL affiliate, the New Jersey Devils, who signed a tryout contract earlier this week, made it 1-0 with his first professional goal in his first professional game off assists from Bobby Allen and Dean McAmmond at the 8:31 mark. McAmmond then doubled the lead 3:37 later with his 19th of the season off assists from Ryan Murphy and Tallackson.

The Sound Tigers cut the lead to 2-1 when Barrett Heisten converted the back end of a give-and-go with Steve Regier for his sixth goal of the season with 3:45 left in the opening frame. Matt Koalska also assisted on the play.

Albany regained the two-goal lead at 3-1 when Tuomas Pihlman notched his ninth goal of the year off an assist from Adrian Foster 6:11 into the second period, but the Sound Tigers pulled back to within 3-2 on the team-leading 22nd goal and 59th point for Rob Collins off assists from Justin Papineau and Justin Mapletoft.

The River Rats went back up by two then increased their advantage to three as Brian Gionta scored his fourth goal of the season off assists from Ivan Khomutov and Bryan Miller at the 11:45 mark and Aleksander Suglobov added his 25th off an assist from former Sound Tiger Ray Schultz 2:57 later.

Tim Sestito's second goal as a Sound Tiger off assists from Jason Guerriero and Papineau with 1:13 left in the middle frame pared the Albany lead to 5-3 by the second intermission.

After combining for eight goals in the first 40 minutes of play, neither team was able to score in the final 20. The Sound Tigers had the best chance late in the game with 1:36 of a five-on-three power play during which they pulled goaltender Wade Dubielewicz in favor of an extra attacker, but the final period ended the way it started, with Albany leading 5-3.

Tallackson was the first star of the game, McAmmond the second and Papineau the third. Ari Ahonen made 29 saves to earn the win while Dubielewicz made 19 as the Sound Tigers had a 32-24 shots on goal advantage. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 6 on the power play while the River Rats were 0 for 3.

The Sound Tigers will return home to finish the regular season with a pair of games at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard this weekend against the Manchester Monarchs Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and the Hershey Bears Sunday at 4:05 p.m. Both games will be web cast live at www.soundtigers.com.

Information regarding Sound Tigers ticket packages and marketing 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 invited to call 203-334-GOAL.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 13, 2005


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