Sound Tigers Weekly
April 2, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers find themselves tied for the East Division's final playoff spot with just two weeks remaining in the regular season. The Sound Tigers rebounded from a tough start to the week to defeat the Albany River Rats on Sunday in their biggest game of the season to this point. The Sound Tigers and River Rats are tied with 74 points as they battle for the American Hockey League's East Division's fourth and final playoff spot. Both teams have seven games to play as they make their respective runs at a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Weekly recap: The Sound Tigers went 1-3 this past week, dropping a pair of games on the road and splitting two home contests. They lost back-to-back games to the Hartford Wolf Pack (7-2 in Hartford on Wednesday and 5-2 at home, at the Arena at Harbor Yard, on Friday). After losing a heart-breaker, 6-5 in Hershey to the Bears on Saturday, the Sound Tigers ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over Albany at home on Sunday.
Hartford has won eight straight games against the Sound Tigers and lead the season series eight games to one with one game to play, April 13 at the Hartford Civic Center. The Sound Tigers won the season series six games to two against the Bears, the team with the most points in the AHL, and a possible first-round playoff opponent. Albany leads Bridgeport 4-3 in their season series.
In the standings: With a record of 34-33-1-5 the Sound Tigers are tied with the River Rats (34-33-3-3) with 74 points in the East Division.
Newcomers step up: Five players made their Sound Tigers' debuts this week - and for some it was their first taste of professional hockey.
Forwards James Sixsmith and Kyle Rank signed ATOs on March 30. Sixsmith earned an assist in his first pro game, a 5-2 to Hartford. Sixsmith notched his first two professional goals the next night in a 6-5 loss at Hershey. His second goal gave the Sound Tigers the lead with just 3:22 to play in the game before the Bears came back. Rank scored his first pro goal in his first pro game in the 5-2 loss to Hartford. Appropriately, his first goal came on "Golf Night" at the Sound Tigers' game. Rank was recruited to play golf at St. Lawrence University where he was a walk-on hockey player.
Forward Steve Crampton signed a PTO with the Sound Tigers on March 30 and played in his 10th career AHL game that night. Forward David Desharnais signed an ATO on March 31 and made his Sound Tiger debut that night in Hershey, then scored his first goal the next day in the 4-2 win over Albany. Forward Trevor Smith signed an ATO with Bridgeport on Sunday and played his first AHL game against the River Rats on Sunday.
Player of the Week candidate: The Sound Tigers nominate goaltender Michael Mole for the CCM/Vector AHL Player of the Week Award. Mole stopped 31 of 33 shots, including several diving and lunging denials, in Sunday's 4-2 win over Albany. Mole was called up from Pensacola of the ECHL this past weekend.
Remaining Sound Tigers home games:
Friday, April 6 vs. Providence at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 14 vs. Philadelphia at 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 15 vs. Norfolk at 1 p.m.
Get Your Sound Tigers Jerseys!
The Sound Tigers will auction off game-worn home jerseys at the Saturday, April 14 game vs. the Philadelphia Phantoms (7 p.m.).
Team Photo Giveaway, April 15
Sunday, April 15, when the Sound Tigers host the Norfolk Admirals at 1 p.m., is Fan Appreciation Day. Fans will receive a team photo.
Get your tickets!
Great seats are available for all games at the state-of-the-art Arena at Harbor Yard. For ticket information, including group discount opportunities, call 334-4625 or visit soundtigers.com. Individual tickets are available at the Arena at Harbor Yard Box Office.
Please sign here
Sound Tiger players stick around to sign shirts, photos and other memorabilia in the main concourse behind Section 103 after every home game.
In the community
Sound Tiger players and Storm the mascot are out and about in the community. Storm is available to make appearances and will join your child's birthday party celebration at a Sound Tigers game (call 203-334-4625 for information).
American Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2007
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- Portland Pirates Weekly Report - Portland Pirates
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- Predators Reassign Peverley to Admirals - Milwaukee Admirals
- San Antonio Rampage Week 26 Report - San Antonio Rampage
- 'Dogs look to clinch playoff berth this week - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Moose clinch playoff spot in week 26 - Manitoba Moose
- Rivermen weekly - Peoria Rivermen
- Blackhawks Recall Dustin Byfuglien from Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Monarchs Report - Manchester Monarchs
- Stars win three of four, expand lead in playoff race - Iowa Chops
- Kings Recall Tukonen - Manchester Monarchs
- Canucks Re-assign Tremblay to Moose - Manitoba Moose
- West Michigan Salutes Steve Yzerman - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Monarchs, St. Mary's Bank Put Hunger On Ice - Manchester Monarchs
- Wolves earn league honor with Sterling milestone - Chicago Wolves
- Nolan Schaefer named Rbk X-Pulse/ AHL Goaltender of the Month - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Penguins' Schaefer named Rbk X-Pulse/AHL Goaltender of the Month - AHL
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- Admirals Winger Troy Brouwer Named Rbk Hockey/AHL Rookie of the Month - Norfolk Admirals
- Wolves' Sterling earns CCM/AHL Milestone of the Month - AHL
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Connecticut Whale
- Phantoms Weekly Update - Adirondack Phantoms
- Albany River Rats Notebook - Albany River Rats
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- Pirates' McKee named CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Huge East Division Battles On Tap this Week for the Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Sound Tigers Weekly - Bridgeport Islanders
- Carkner raises $8,230 for fight against cancer - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Wolf Pack release Olver - Connecticut Whale
- B-Sens release Collymore, Saurettel Sign Weller to ATO - Binghamton Senators
- Pens hit 100 points with win Sunday - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
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