AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Trounce Lowell, Tie Franchise Record

Published on December 21, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, CT – The American Hockey League's 2001-02 Regular Season Champion and Eastern Conference Playoff Champion Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, returned to the Arena at Harbor Yard after a two-week, six-game road trip with a 7-3 victory over the Lowell Lock Monsters Saturday. 12 Sound Tigers earned at least one point in the win. The seven goals represent the most goals Bridgeport has scored this season and tied the record for most in a game in team history. The Sound Tigers also set a season-high mark for goals in a period with four in the first.

Eric Manlow opened the scoring with his tenth goal of the season 4:48 into the first period on assists from Brandon Smith and Alan Letang. Torres notched his seventh goal of the year on the power play off assists from Trent Hunter and Smith at 13:44. Just :33 later, Matt Higgins put the Sound Tigers up 3-0 with his eighth goal of the season off assists from Mike Souza and Tomi Pettinen. Torres scored his second of the night with 19 seconds remaining in the opening frame with Justin Mapletoft and Konstantin Kalmikov credited with helpers.

Over one-thousand stuffed animals and toys were collected in the "Coca Cola Teddy Bear" toss during the first intermission. The animals and toys will be distributed by Sound Tigers players and Team Mascot Storm to the Children's Ward at Bridgeport Hospital tomorrow. Toys will also be distributed to Children's Connection in Norwalk.

Lowell replaced Goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier with Damian Rhodes at the start of the second period. Kalmikov beat Rhodes just 1:29 into the period for his sixth goal of the season on assists from Torres and Mapletoft. Higgins then notched his second goal of the game at 12:22 from Mike Souza and Eric Godard, and Hunter increased the lead to 7-0 :47 later with his team-leading 14th goal of the season on assists from Ray Schultz and Letang.

Craig MacDonald put Lowell on the board with an unassisted tally, his fourth goal of the season, at 4:51 of the third period. Ryan Bayda scored his sixth goal of year from MacDonald and Jeff Heerema at 15:16, and Steve Halko closed out the scoring with his third goal of the season on assists from Brad DeFauw and Don Smith 1:18 later.

The Sound Tigers were 1 for 3 on the power play and 4 for 4 on the penalty kill. Lowell outshot Bridgeport by a margin of 31 to 25. Raffi Torres was named number one star, Matt Higgins number two star, and Justin Mapletoft number three. Sound Tigers Goaltender Steve Valiquette also improved his personal, unbeaten streak to seven games, 6-0-1, with the win.

The Sound Tigers will return home Monday at 7:05 p.m. to host the Hartford Wolf Pack before heading on the road for a pair of games versus the Manitoba Moose Saturday, December 28th and Tuesday December 31st. All games are broadcast live on "The ZONE" FOX Sports Radio 1300 and at www.soundtigers.com. WSTC/WNLK 1400/1350 also carries road games.

Sound Tigers 2002-03 tickets are on sale at the Arena at Harbor Yard box office, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 203-368-1000. Information regarding Sound Tigers flex packs, group discounts, birthday packages and season ticket packages is also 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 or log on to www.soundtigers.com as well.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 21, 2002


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