AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Rally For Second Night In A Row

Published on January 31, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


PORTLAND, ME - The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, rallied from a 2-0 deficit for the second night in a row and beat the Portland Pirates 3-2 in overtime on the road Saturday to finish a stretch in which they played 15 of 19 games away from home. Last night the Sound Tigers scored five unanswered goals for a 5-2 road win over the Manchester Monarchs.

Portland jumped out of the gates with a 6-0 shots on goal advantage opening the scoring on the last of those shots as Roman Tvrdon notched his second goal of the season off assists from Jason Ulmer and Dwayne Zinger at the 5:06 mark of the first period. The Pirates' lead held up through both the first and second periods.

Portland appeared to take control of the game with a 2-0 lead 2:57 into the third period on Francois Methot's second goal of the season off assists from Garret Stroshein and Mike Vigilante. However, the Sound Tigers tied the score at 2-2 with a pair of goals by Cail MacLean and Justin Mapletoft.

MacLean scored his fifth goal of the season right off a face-off at the 6:24 mark off assists from Tomi Pettinen and Ben Guite. Mapletoft added his fifth marker 5:32 later off assists from Ryan Kraft and Jody Robinson.

After the Sound Tigers failed to convert a rare overtime power play in the extra session, Kraft banged home his second overtime goal of the season, his seventh marker overall, with four seconds left to play off assists from Alan Letang and Kevin Colley. Colley is now on a four-game scoring streak.

With the win the Sound Tigers improved to 6-3-6 in overtime this season, including 4-2-3 on the road. They are also now unbeaten in their last four games overall at 3-0-1.

Kraft was the first star of the game, Mapletoft the second, and Methot the third. Sound Tigers Goaltender Dieter Kochan made 28 saves for his second win in a row while Pirates Netminder Maxime Ouellet made 30 saves in a losing effort as the Sound Tigers had a 33-30 shots on goal advantage, including 6-2 in the extra session. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 4 on the power play while Portland was 0 for 2.

The Sound Tigers will return home to host the Lowell Lock Monsters next Friday, February the 6th at 7:35 p.m. and the Albany River Rats next, Saturday February the 7th at 7:05 p.m. Both of next weekend's games are scheduled to be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM and at www.soundtigers.com.

Sound Tigers individual-game tickets are on sale at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard box office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and on all game days, as well as on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 203-368-1000.

Information regarding Sound Tigers season tickets, partial plans, flex packs, group discounts, birthday parties, suite 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 also invited to call 203-334-GOAL or email info@soundtigers.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 31, 2004


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