Sound Tigers Win 5-3 In Springfield
February 14, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, CT - The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, went 2 for 4 on the power play, 5 for 5 on the penalty kill and scored a pair of shorthanded goals in a 5-3 road win over the Springfield Falcons Saturday.
The Sound Tigers took a 1-0 lead when Brent Gauvreau scored his third goal of the year off assists from Jeff Hamilton and Rob Collins 9:10 into the game. Gauvreau scored on the power play just 18 seconds into a hooking penalty to Springfield's Frantisek Lukes who was sent right back to the penalty box at the 9:10 mark for unsportsmanlike conduct, but the Falcons killed that advantage.
The Sound Tigers doubled their lead to 2-0 with their sixth shorthanded goal of the season as Justin Mapletoft extended his scoring streak to six games with his sixth goal of the season 3:41 into the second period off assists from Ryan Kraft and Tomi Pettinen.
Springfield soared back into the game with a pair of even-strength goals as Jason Jaspers notched his sixth marker of the season, and second in as many games versus the Sound Tigers, at the 6:34 mark off an assist from Gary Shuchuk, and Nic Bilotto scored an unassisted four-on-four goal with 5:36 left in the middle frame. However, the Sound Tigers regained the lead with another power-play goal.
Hamilton, in just his second game back after missing 13 with a serious eye injury, scored his team-leading 27th goal, his 14th on the advantage, off an assist from Brandon Smith with 3:39 left in the second period.
The Falcons appeared to have tied the game at 3-3 with 6:13 left to play, but Referee Scott Hoberg waived off a goal by Krystofer Kolanos ruling that the whistle had been blown, and it turned out to be an even bigger call when Hamilton notched his second goal of the night, his League-leading tenth game-winner, to make it 4-2 just eight seconds later off an assist form Cole Jarrett who is now on a three-game assist streak.
The Sound Tigers added some insurance and chased All-Star Netminder David LeNeveu from the Springfield net when Ben Guite scored his sixth goal of the season, the team's second shortie of the game and seventh of the year, off an assist from Alan Letang at 16:26.
The Falcons cut the lead to 5-3 with 1:11 to play on Mike Stutzel's 11th goal of the season off an assist from former Sound Tigers Dustin Wood, but they would draw no closer.
Hamilton was the first star of the game, Sound Tigers Goaltender Wade Dubielewicz was the second with 19 saves, and Jaspers was the third. LeNeveu finished with 22 saves while Scott Dickie stopped the only shot he faced in relief for Springfield.
The Sound Tigers will host the Hershey Bears tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM and at www.soundtigers.com beginning at 3:45 p.m.
Sound Tigers individual-game tickets are on sale at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard box office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and on all game days, as well as on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 203-368-1000.
Information regarding Sound Tigers season tickets, partial plans, flex packs, group discounts, birthday parties, suite packages and sponsorship opportunities is 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 also invited to call 203-334-GOAL or email info@soundtigers.com.
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American Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2004
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