AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers see game-tying waved off late in regulation

Published on February 16, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Sound Tigers fought back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the Bruins heading into the third period, but could not erase another deficit as their game-tying goal was waved off in a frustrating 5-3 loss to Providence on Saturday night. With the win, the Bruins improve to 29-17-0-3. The Sound Tigers fall to 22-21-2-3 with the loss.

The Sound Tigers trailed by two goals late in the second period, but goals from Nino Niederreiter at 14:18 and Sean Backman at 17:30 brought Bridgeport even heading into the third period. The Bruins would regain the lead at 7:46 of the final frame, when Kyle MacKinnon buried a rebound off a spectacular save by Sound Tigers goaltender Kevin Poulin.

Despite physical, chippy play on both sides, the Sound Tigers found themselves on just their second power play of the night with 5:36 left in regulation in search of the equalizer. On that power play, Backman appeared to tie the score with his second goal of the night, sending the puck through Niklas Svedberg's pads as he slid to his right. However, Svedberg had pushed the net off is moorings with his left leg prior to the puck crossing the goal line, and the goal was waved off.

Providence sealed the win at 19:43 on an empty net goal as the Sound Tigers attempted to change their goalies prior to an offensive zone draw. Kenny Reiter went to replace Poulin in net before being pulled in favor of an extra attacker, but the puck was dropped before Sound Tigers forward Matt Watkins entered the faceoff circle. Whitfield won unopposed faceoff to Torey Krug, who fired the puck off of the glass down into the empty net as Reiter raced off to put Providence ahead 5-3.

The Bruins built their lead on goals from Graham Mink and Justin Florek 1:54 apart midway through the first period. Providence carried that lead into the second period, but Brandon DeFazio drew within a goal when he snapped a shot from the left circle 3:39 into the second period for his ninth tally of the season.

The Sound Tigers faced an extended 5-on-3 disadvantage midway through the second period after successive penalties to Matt Donovan, Brock Nelson and Jon Landry in a 1:18 span. Poulin and the penalty kill unit made it through two minutes of the 5-on-3 disadvantage, but Jamie Tardif scored on a scramble in front to put Providence ahead 3-1.

Poulin made 36 saves in the loss, while Svedberg stopped 28 shots to earn the win for the Bruins.

The Sound Tigers return to action tomorrow afternoon when they host the Norfolk Admirals at Webster Bank Arena at 3:00 p.m.

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