AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Open Playoffs With 2-1 Win

Published on April 20, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


WILKES-BARRE, PA - The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, opened the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs with a 2-1 road win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Thursday to take a one-game-to-none advantage in their best-of-seven East Division semifinal.

Both goaltenders made some big saves early while their respective teams were on the power play. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Dany Sabourin denied Matt Koalska on a first-period breakaway while Sound Tigers netminder Wade Dubielewicz slid across the crease to make a right-pad save on Maxime Talbot in the middle frame.

After the teams raced through an intense, but scoreless first period, the Sound Tigers took the first lead 1:45 into the second when Sean Bergenheim zipped a cross-slot feed from the left circle to Robert Nilsson who, from his off wing in the right circle, was able to beat Sabourin and make it 1-0. Jeremy Colliton also assisted on the play.

The Sound Tigers doubled their lead to 2-0 just past the mid-point of the game when Rob Collins, the team's all-time leading scorer, blasted his first postseason goal through traffic at the 10:49 mark of the middle period off a nice feed from behind the net by Justin Papineau. Chris Thompson collected the other helper on the play.

However, the Penguins pulled right back to within one at 2-1 when Jonathan Filewich beat Dubielewicz from the slot just 26 seconds after the Collins goal off a centering feed from Guillaume Lefebvre.

After being outshot 18-12 through the first two periods, the Sound Tigers had a 13-7 advantage in the final frame.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton pulled Sabourin in favor of an extra attacker inside the final minute of the third period but could not tie the game.

Dubielewicz was the first star with 24 saves, Bergenheim the second and Sabourin the third with 23 saves. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 6 on the power play while the Penguins were 0 for 5.

Game two of the series will be in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this Saturday at 7:05 p.m. with game three scheduled for this Sunday, April 23rd at 3:05 p.m. at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard. The complete series schedule can be viewed on-line at www.soundtigers.com/2006round1a.pdf. All Sound Tigers games are web-cast live at www.soundtigers.com. Fans can also watch all AHL games live on the Internet via the B2 Networks pay per view.

Sound Tigers playoff tickets cost as little as $11 for children and $16 for adults and can be purchased at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard box office, by calling 203-368-1000 or on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. Sound Tigers Playoff Gift Packs-- which include four tickets, an autographed puck and four SportsCenter of CT activity passes --are also on sale for as little as $69.

Information regarding all Sound Tigers ticket packages, promotions and upcoming games is available on-line at www.soundtigers.com, by emailing info@soundtigers.com or by calling 203-334-GOAL.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2006


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