AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Roar Back To Beat Manchester 5-2

Published on January 30, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


MANCHESTER, NH - The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, erased a 2-0 early-second-period deficit with five unanswered goals to beat the Manchester Monarchs 5-2 on the road Friday. The win snapped a five-game, road, losing streak for the Sound Tigers. In addition, the Sound Tigers are now unbeaten, 2-0-1, in their last three games overall.

Manchester's Michael Cammalleri opened the scoring with his eighth goal of the season on a nice rush up the ice and off assists from Maxim Kuznetsov and Joe Rullier just 1:48 into the game. The Monarchs doubled their lead to 2-0 on Sam Ftorek's third goal of the season 2:00 into the middle frame off an assist from Cammalleri.

The Sound Tigers tied the game with a pair of second-period goals. Ryan Kraft cut the lead to 2-1 with his sixth goal of the season at the 3:40 mark off assists from Justin Mapletoft and Rob Collins, and Derek Bekar, scoring for the second time in as many contests, tied the game at 2-2 with his 18th goal of the year off assists from Tomi Pettinen and Alan Letang at 13:01. Friday's game marked a homecoming of sorts for Bekar who played most of the past two seasons in Manchester, as well as three years, 1995-98, at the University of New Hampshire.

The Sound Tigers took their first lead of the contest 7:00 into the third period on an unassisted, shorthanded goal by Rob Collins. It was the second shortie and seventh goal overall on the season for Collins. It was also the Sound Tigers' fifth shorthanded marker of the season.

Kevin Colley upped a personal scoring streak to three games with his career-AHL-best ninth goal of the season off an assist from Brent Gauvreau with 9:01 left to play. Gauvreau now has two points in as many games since signing a professional tryout contract with the Sound Tigers Monday.

Collins iced the win with an empty-net goal at the 18:56 mark off assists from Blaine Down and Alain Nasreddine.

Collins was the first star of the game. Sound Tigers Goaltender Dieter Kochan was the second star with a 33-save win. Cammalleri was the third star. Monarchs Netminder Mathieu Chouinard, who had a personal shutout streak end at 173:24 on Kraft's goal, made 20 saves as Manchester had a 35-25 shots on goal advantage. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 4 on the power play while the Monarchs were 0 for 3.

The Sound Tigers will visit the Portland Pirates tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM and at www.soundtigers.com. The Sound Tigers' next home game will be next Friday, February the 6th when they host the Lowell Lock Monsters at 7:35 p.m.

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 30, 2004


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