Sound Tigers Outshoot Binghamton 4-3
March 16, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, CT - The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, outlasted the Binghamton Senators on the road Wednesday for a 4-3 win in a game that was not decided until the seventh round of a shootout.
Referee Dean Morton called a tight game in a physical first period assessing 16 penalty minutes and six power plays, but the Sound Tigers opened the scoring at even strength when Matt Koalska barreled down the slot to tap home the rebound of a Steve Regier shot for his third goal of the season at the 17:44 mark. Jody Robinson also assisted on the play.
The Sound Tigers doubled their lead to 2-0 just 2:31 into the middle frame on a power-play goal by Rob Collins off assists from Eric Godard and Ryan Caldwell. It was the team-leading 20th goal and 49th point for Collins.
Binghamton tied the game on a pair of goals by Antoine Vermette, his 22nd and 23, at 6:34 off assists from Denis Hamel and Brian Pothier and at 15:02 off assists from Hamel and Josh Langfeld.
Morton awarded the Senators a penalty shot with 1:15 left in the second period when Sound Tigers goaltender Dieter Kochan lost his stick while swatting at Vermette, but Kochan denied Vermette on the attempt, and the period ended with the scored tied 2-2.
Justin Papineau regained the lead for the Sound Tigers at 3-2 with his 12th goal of the year, on the power play, off assists from Caldwell and newcomer Jason Sessa 8:51 into the third period, but Binghamton tied it at 3-3 just 2:37 on the advantage as Jason Spezza notched his 26th goal and League-leading 92nd point off assists from Hamel and Anton Volchenkov.
Outshot 42-35 in regulation, the Sound Tigers had 5-2 advantage in the five-minute overtime, but neither team was able to score. Kochan then matched Senators netminder Ray Emery save-for-save through the first four rounds of the shootout before the teams then connected on five straight attempts with Sean Bergenheim, Collins and Papineau scoring for the Sound Tigers and Hamel and Spezza tallying for Binghamton.
Kochan made Papineau's successful attempt stand up when he denied Hamel in the bottom of the seventh round for the win.
Vermette was the first star of the game, Kochan the second and Hamel the third. Kochan finished with 41 saves while Emery made 37 as the Senators had a 44-41 shots on goal advantage. The Sound Tigers were 2 for 6 on the power play while Binghamton was 1 for 4.
The Sound Tigers will continue a stretch of four straight road games when they visit the Springfield Falcons this Friday at 7:35 p.m., the Manchester Monarchs this Saturday at 7:35 p.m. and the Albany River Rats this Sunday at 4 p.m. They will also host the Norfolk Admirals at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island next Wednesday, March 23rd at 7:05 p.m. before returning home to Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard to host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday, March 25th and the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday, March 26th.
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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