Sound Tigers take commanding series lead
April 21, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (Tuesday, April 20, 2004) - Ryan Kraft scored two goals and Wade Dubielewicz made 25 saves as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 4-2, before a crowd of 5,912 at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.
With the loss, the Penguins now trail the best-of-seven East Division Semifinal series, three games to one. Game five will be played on Thursday at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard (7:05 p.m. start).
"We didn't work," coach Michel Therrien said. "Everything that we tried to teach from day one, we did the opposite. The result was what we saw. That's why I'm very disappointed with our all-around effort. I'm very disappointed about the performance of some guys. And when we're saying disappointed, it's because we're being politically correct."
The Penguins took an early 1-0 lead on Patrick Boileau's power play goal at 14:46 of the first period. With 50 seconds left on Steve Munn's hooking penalty, Dubielewicz made a pad save on Tom Kostopoulos' shot, but Boileau got the rebound in the middle of the circle and blasted a shot over Dubielwicz's right shoulder and into the top of the net for his first goal of the playoffs.
In the second period, Bridgeport took a 2-1 lead on a pair of goals Kraft. The Sound Tigers got a break as Steve Webb appeared to be off-sides, but the play continued and Kraft took a pass from Luke Curtin and flipped a back-hander over Caron's right pad at 8:17 to even the game at 1-1.
Late in the period, Kraft slipped past the Pens' defense and scored on an odd-man rush to give the Sound Tigers' a 2-1 lead with his second goal of the playoffs at 18:53.
Bridgeport struck early in the third period to take a commanding 3-1 lead on Kevin Colley's goal 14 seconds into the period. Colley, who returned to the lineup after missing the last two games due to a suspension, took advantage of a Penguin miscue and scored his first goal of the postseason to give Bridgeport a two-goal lead. On the first shift of the third period, Penguins' rookie defenseman Ryan Whitney lost his footing and fell down, allowing Colley to skate all alone into the Penguins' zone and beat Caron with a shot high to the glove side form the goal.
The Penguins closed within a goal as Eric Meloche scored his third goal in the last two games to cut the lead to 3-2. With Bridgeport's Jay Leach off for interference, the Penguins scored late in the man-advantage as Meloche knocked a loose rebound in the front of the crease past Dubielewicz for his third goal of the playoffs at 10:42.
"We showed some life a little bit in the third period, but the damage was done," Therrien said.
Late in the game, Bridgeport sealed the win as Jeff Hamilton scored his third goal of the playoffs with 1:43 left in regulation to give the Sound Tigers a commanding 4-2 lead. Coach Michel Therrien pulled Caron late in the game for an extra attacker, but to no avail.
"I think enough was said after the game," said Brooks Orpik. "I think most of us in here know who played hard and who didn't. No one has to point the finger. You know how you played. I think if guys aren't disciplining themselves, there's something wrong."
The Penguins outshot the Sound Tigers, 25-16, for the fourth straight game. Bridgeport goaltender Wade Dubielewicz made 23 saves to improve his record to 2-0 in the postseason, while Sebastien Caron stopped 12 of 16 shots in his third appearance for the Penguins.
And now, the Penguins will look to keep their season alive on Thursday and will try to return the series back to Wilkes-Barre on Friday for a Game Six at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.
"Who's got character?" Therrien asked. "Who's got the desire to win? Who's going to be proud enough to play their best game? This is the situation we're facing right now."
"We have to leave everything on the ice Thursday," added team captain Tom Kostopoulos. "See everything we've got."
GAME NOTES ... Scratches for the Penguins were David Koci (suspension), Marc-Andre Fleury (healthy), Ross Lupaschuk (healthy), Ryan Tobler (injury), Reid Simpson (injury), Darcy Robinson (injury) ... The Penguins have never played a Game Five of a playoff series on the road ... The Penguins are 1-2 at home in Game Five ... The Penguins have lost their last six road playoff games and are 6-8 overall on the road in the postseason ... The Penguins have now outshot Bridgeport in all four games and hold a 144-83 edge in shots for the series ... The Penguins are 12-8 lifetime when outshooting the opposition in the playoffs ... RW Eric Meloche has three goals in the last two games and has a two-game point streak and goal streak in progress with 3-0-3 totals ... Meloche has recorded five points (4+1) in four playoff games this season.
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American Hockey League Stories from April 21, 2004
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- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Phantoms sign Jeff Carter - Adirondack Phantoms
- Clark Recalled by Toronto - Syracuse Crunch
- Andy Hilbert to play for USA at World Championships - Providence Bruins
- Sound Tigers take commanding series lead - Bridgeport Islanders
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