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AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Weekly Report

January 25, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


THE WEEK THAT WAS ‚¬Â¦ The Sound Tigers broke out of their slump to open 2011 which included their first win of the calendar year. Bridgeport received some solid goaltending performances and timely goals, earning points in two out of three contests as they finished the week with a 1-1-0-1 record.

PROVIDENCE 3, SOUND TIGERS 2 (SO) ‚¬Â¦ Goaltender Nathan Lawson was returned to the Sound Tigers for what turned out to be just one game, Tuesday night's contest at Webster Bank Arena against the Providence Bruins. Lawson's start was shaky as he allowed a goal on the first shot he faced from Jeremy Reich to give the P-Bruins a 1-0 lead, but the Sound Tigers netminder would settle down. Micheal Haley's power play goal 16 seconds into the second period tied the game at one, and Jason Pitton netted his first goal with the Sound Tigers this season less than two minutes into the third to give the Sound Tigers a 2-1 lead. Bridgeport was forced to kill multiple penalties and was shorthanded 5-on-3 on three separate occasions during the game, but held Providence at bay. However, Jordan Caron's wraparound with 58.9 seconds in regulation beat Lawson to tie the game at two. Neither side could gain the extra point in the overtime session, and Jamie Arniel's goal in the third round of the shootout was the difference maker as Providence earned the 3-2 shootout win. Lawson made 35 saves in the losing effort.

SOUND TIGERS 6, WORCESTER 3 ‚¬Â¦ The Sound Tigers traveled to Worcester on Saturday night looking to snap their eight-game winless streak. Joel Martin earned the start in net following a 48-save performance in a 3-2 loss in Norfolk on Jan. 15, and Martin put forth another impressive effort. Dustin Kohn's first goal of the season with less than six minutes left in the first period put the Sound Tigers on top, but Tommy Wingels tied the score on a rebound with 25.3 left in the opening frame. Matt Irwin and Dan DaSilva notched goals to put Worcester in front 3-1 midway through the second period, but Micheal Haley would change the momentum of the game. Haley fought Worcester forward Cam MacIntyre following DaSilva's goal, knocking down the Princeton University product and changing the complexion of the game. Jesse Joensuu snuck behind the defense on a breakaway soon after to cut the deficit to one, and Rob Hisey's power play goal in the final minute of the second period tied the game 3-3 heading to the third. Joensuu's sharp-angle shot from the left corner handcuffed Alex Stalock and banked in to put the Sound Tigers up 4-3 at 10:07 of the third, Justin DiBenedetto scored on the power play less than two minutes later, and Dustin Kohn added an empty-netter as the Sound Tigers scored five unanswered goals to beat the Sharks 6-3. Joel Martin made 39 saves to earn the win for the Sound Tigers, his first with the team and first in the AHL since the 2006-07 season.

SPRINGFIELD 4, SOUND TIGERS 2 ‚¬Â¦ Joel Martin earned his second straight start in less than 24 hours as the Sound Tigers looked to build off of their 6-3 win over Worcester on Sunday against the Falcons. Rob Hisey's power play goal 3:36 into the game put the Sound Tigers in front, but David Savard countered with a power play goal for Springfield at 7:53, and the two sides went to the dressing rooms tied 1-1 after the first period. Tom Sestito scored 55 seconds into the second period to give Springfield the lead, and Dane Byers' shorthanded tally made the score 3-1 in favor of the Falcons. The Sound Tigers were unable to convert on multiple power play chances in the second and third periods, but did draw within one on Justin DiBenedetto's second goal in as many games with 2:13 left in regulation. However, Dane Byers would intercept Brett Motherwell's pass by the Springfield blue line and skated it down into the Sound Tigers empty net. Despite Byers' empty-netter being Springfield's only shot of the third period, the Falcons earned a 4-2 win.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK ‚¬" ROB HISEY ‚¬Â¦

Sound Tigers forward Rob Hisey earns player of the week honors for his performance in the team's three games this past week. Hisey scored power play goals in back-to-back games this past weekend, totaling two goals and three assists this week. The Oakville, Ont. native scored the game-tying goal in Saturday's 6-3 win over Worcester as well as the first goal in Sunday's 4-2 loss at Springfield. Hisey ranks first amongst active Sound Tigers with 23 points (six goals, 17 assists) in just 26 games this season.

RAKHSHANI RETURNED TO SOUND TIGERS... The New York Islanders announced Monday that they have returned forward Rhett Rakhshani to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. Rakhshani was recalled by the Islanders on Tuesday, Jan. 11, but suffered a concussion in that night's contest against the Vancouver Canucks. Rakhshani was taken off injured reserve this morning and subsequently returnred to the Sound Tigers. This was Rakhshani's second recall following a one-game stint on Dec. 13 against the Nashville Predators where the rookie forward made his NHL debut. Rakhshani returns to the Sound Tigers where he's third on the team in goals (10) and leads the team in assists (22) and points (32). Rakhshani is currently second amongst all active AHL rookies in points and was selected to represent the Sound Tigers along with Mark Wotton at the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Capital BlueCross in Hershey this weekend.

FEED THE TIGER FOOD DRIVE ‚¬Â¦

The Sound Tigers will be hosting their annual "Feed The Tiger' campaign at the Sound Tigers Saturday, Feb. 5 game against Springfield. Fans who bring four or more non-perishable food items to the 7 p.m. contest will receive a ticket to a future Sound Tigers game this season.

The Sound Tigers "Feed The Tiger" campaign is in support of the Souper Bowl of Caring, a national movement geared towards helping others and donating food to local area pantries on Super Bowl weekend.

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