AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Win 2-1 In Lowell

Published on January 20, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


LOWELL, MA - The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, beat the Lowell Lock Monsters 2-1 on the road Friday. With the win, the Sound Tigers are now 6-0 in the season series.

Sean Bergenheim, who returned to the Sound Tigers from the Islanders Monday morning, was the best player on the ice in the first period Friday. Bergenheim helped draw a pair of Lowell penalties that negated power plays for the Lock Monsters. He also gave the Sound Tigers a 1-0 lead when he fought off a Lowell defender while moving from the blue line down through the slot to score his 12th goal of the season at the 9:24 mark. Veteran Dave Karpa zipped a home run pass from the Sound Tigers' zone to the Lock Monsters blue line for one assist with Ryan Caldwell collecting the other.

The goaltenders took over in the middle frame with Lowell's Vitaly Kolesnik stopping all 19 shots he faced for a two-period total of 32 saves while Cody Rudkowsky made five saves for a total of 21 after 40 minutes of play for the Sound Tigers.

The Sound Tigers carried a power play into each intermission and converted the second such advantage when Rob Collins whipped home his 11th goal, and team-leading 38th point, just 24 seconds into the third period off an assist from Joel Bouchard to double the lead to 2-0.

However, the Lock Monsters pulled back to within 2-1 at the 7:52 mark when Nicoals Corbeil redirected a Mikko Viitanen shot for his third goal of the season. Rudkowsky lost his stick making a save seconds before the Viitanen shot from high on the left wing boards. Jeff Finger also assisted on the play.

Referee Brian Pochmara put the Sound Tigers on the power play with 2:08 left to play, but it was Lowell with the best chance when leading scorer and all-star Keith Aucoin had a breakaway from the Lock Monsters blue line, however Rudkowsky made a brilliant left-pad save to preserve the win.

Lowell did pulled Kolesnik in favor of an extra attacker as time ticked down but could not score. The teams also tangled briefly after the final buzzer pushing the game's penalty total to 100 minutes.

Bergenheim was the first star of the game, Kolesnik the second with 44 saves and Collins the third. Rudkowsky finished with 29 saves for the Sound Tigers who were 1 for 7 on the power play, 5 for 5 on the penalty kill and had a 46-30 shots on goal advantage.

The Sound Tigers will visit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and again this Wednesday, January 25th at 7:05 p.m. They will also visit the Providence Bruins next Friday, January 27th at 7:05 p.m. before returning to Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard to host the Philadelphia Phantoms Saturday, January 28th at 7:05 p.m. on Wade Dubielewicz Bobblehead giveaway night and the Syracuse Crunch Sunday, January 29th at 4:05 p.m. on Islanders 25th Anniversary puck giveaway night.

All Sound Tigers games are web-cast live at www.soundtigers.com. Fans can also watch all games live on the B2 Networks. Information about Sound Tigers ticket packages and promotions is available by calling 203-334-GOAL or emailing info@soundtigers.com.

Check out the Bridgeport Islanders Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central