AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Win 6-2 In Utah

October 31, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, UT - The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, used their largest offensive output of the season to beat the Utah Grizzlies 6-2 on the road Saturday. With the win, the Sound Tigers are now unbeaten in regulation in four straight games, 3-0-0-1, and are 2-0 on a five-game road trip.

The Sound Tigers opened the scoring quickly as Jeff Hamilton extended his goal streak to five games just 46 seconds into the first period. It was Hamilton's team-leading sixth goal of the season with Justin Mapletoft and Martin Chabada notching the assists. Mapletoft is now on a seven-game scoring streak while Chabada has assists in two straight contests.

The Sound Tigers doubled their lead to 2-0 nine seconds past the mid-point of the first period when Martin Kariya crashed through the slot to poke a rebound past Utah Goaltender Mike Smith. It was Kariya's second goal of the season and his second point in as many games. Eric Manlow had the only assist on the play and now has helpers in each of the last two games.

Utah pulled to within 2-1 on Steve Gainey's second goal of the season off an assist from Tim Verbeek with 1:52 left in the first period, but the Sound Tigers took charge of the game with a pair of blue-collar, second-period goals.

Moments after negating an icing by beating a Utah defender to the puck, Derek Bekar scored his second goal of the season, and his second in as many games, off a great set of passes by Manlow and Kariya to make it 3-1 Sound Tigers 1:32 into the second period. Then Cail MacLean kept the puck in the offensive zone and moved it to Ben Guite who fed Ryan Kraft who in turn rifled a wrist shot past Mike Smith for his second goal of the season, and also in as many games, to make it 4-1 at 10:33 of the middle period.

Chabada upped the lead to 5-1 Sound Tigers 6:54 into the third period with his second goal of the season off assists from Hamilton and Tomi Pettinen. Hamilton then iced the win with his second goal of the night, his seventh marker of the season, when he intercepted a Mike Smith clearing attempt for an unassisted score with 3:13 left to play making it 6-1.

Utah managed one more goal with 49.7 seconds left in the game as Jarrod Skalde scored for the second time this season off assists from Bubba Berenzweig and Rob Valicevic. Skalde ‚¬â„¢s goal was just the second on the power play for the Grizzlies in 61 chances this season and came one second after a five-on-three advantage expired.

The Sound Tigers were 0 for 6 on the power play while Utah was 1 for 6 and had a 28-25 shots on goal advantage. Goaltender Dieter Kochan made 26 saves to earn the win and push his unbeaten-in-regulation streak to four games at 2-0-1-1 while Mike Smith made 19 stops in a losing effort. Hamilton was the first star of the game, Kochan the second, and Sound Tigers Defenseman Brandon Smith was the third.

The Sound Tigers will visit Utah again tomorrow night at 9:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on 600 WICC-AM and at www.soundtigers.com. They will visit the Providence Bruins next Saturday, November 8th and the Philadelphia Phantoms next Sunday, November 9th to finish the stretch of five straight road games.

The Sound Tigers' next home game at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard will be on Veterans' Day, Tuesday, November 11th, when they host the Norfolk Admirals at 4:05 p.m.

The Sound Tigers will present "Military Appreciation Day" on Tuesday, November 11th with free tickets for all military personnel who wear their uniform or show proper identification at the Harbor Yard box office on the day of the game, as well as special ticket prices for friends and family.

Sound Tigers individual-game tickets are on sale at the 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 October 31, 2003


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