Sound Tigers Open Season With 4-1 Home Win
Published on October 16, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, CT â The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, went 3 for 6 on the power play and 10 for 10 on the penalty kill to beat the Albany River Rats 4-1 in their first game of the 2004-05 season. The win was the Sound Tigers' first-ever in a home opener as they opened the season in Bridgeport for the first time in their four-year history. The Sound Tigers were 0-3 in their previous home openers and 1-1-1 in their previous season-opening games, all of which were played on the road.
After weathering an early first-period surge by Albany, the Sound Tigers converted the back end of a five-on-three advantage as Ryan Kraft scored his first goal of the season at 14:48 of the opening frame off assists from Justin Mapletoft and Bruno Gervais. The helper by Gervais was the first point of his professional career in his debut.
The Sound Tigers doubled their lead to 2-0 3:50 into the second period as Justin Papineau fought through traffic just in front of the River Rats net to redirect a Chris Campoli feed for his first goal of the season. It was Campoli's first professional point in his debut. Kraft also assisted on the goal.
Albany pulled to within 2-1 with 1:19 left in the middle frame as Zach Parise saucered a pretty pass to Ilkka Pikkarainen who chipped the puck just past Sound Tigers Goaltender Wade Dubielewicz for his first goal of the season.
The goals by Papineau and Pikkarainen were the only scored at even strength in the game.
Former NHL Rookie of the Year Finalist Jim Campbell one-timed a Justin Mapletoft feed for a power-play goal 2:50 into the third period to regain the two-goal lead for the Sound Tigers with Kraft also assisting on the play. Gervais then scored his first professional goal, the team's third on the advantage, just 52 seconds later one-timing a Campbell feed with Mapletoft earning the second assist. Campbell was making his Sound Tigers debut.
Kraft was the first star of the game, Dubielewicz was the second with 23 saves, and Mapletoft was the third. Scott Clemmensen made 19 saves for the River Rats who had a 24-23 shots on goal advantage.
The Sound Tigers will continue a season-opening, three-game home-stand when they host the Philadelphia Phantoms tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM and at www.soundtigers.com beginning at 3:45. The Sound Tigers will also host Albany this coming Wednesday and visit the River Rats next Friday.
Information regarding Sound Tigers ticket 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 invited to call 203-334-GOAL.
American Hockey League Stories from October 16, 2004
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- Ducks fall to Aeros, 3-1 - Cincinnati RailRaiders
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- Phantoms lose 2-1 in Hartford - Adirondack Phantoms
- Return to ice a winning one for Smith as Aeros win 3-1 - Houston Aeros
- Lehoux Hat Trick Highlights Another Monarchs Win - Manchester Monarchs
- Sound Tigers Open Season With 4-1 Home Win - Bridgeport Islanders
- P-Bruins fall in shootout - Providence Bruins
- Goren's hat-trick leads Moose over Amerks - Manitoba Moose
- Pirates Are Pumped Up For Hockey Night In Portland - Portland Pirates
- Wolves Open Yarms for Brendan - Chicago Wolves
- Aeros play home opener tonight - Houston Aeros
- Bulldogs fall to Road Runners in OT - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Grizzlies Third Period Comeback Falls Just Short Versus Ducks - Utah Grizzlies
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