AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers win fifth straight at home

March 21, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


Bridgeport, Conn. - The Sound Tigers received goals from Jon Sim, Junior Lessard and Dustin Kohn to defeat the Providence Bruins 3-2, earning their team best fifth straight home win of the season. Nathan Lawson was back between the pipes for the second straight game and improved upon his impressive numbers this season, stopping 28 of the 30 shots he faced. Dan Ryder opened the game's scoring in the first period for the Bruins and Matt Marquardt would tally a goal late with about a minute remaining in regulation. The Sound Tigers improve their record to 43-20-3-5 and have 94 points, one better than the Hershey Bears who beat the Portland Pirates tonight, 5-4.

After a scoreless opening frame, Providence poured a sustained amount of pressure on the Sound Tigers in the second period, and just over 13 minutes in, were able to finally beat Lawson. Jeff Penner came around the net, off of Lawson's right shoulder and fed a pass to Ryder in front where he one-timed a shot past the Sound Tiger net-minder for his fourth tally of the season. Jordan Knackstedt also assisted on the goal to give the Bruins the 1-0 lead.

The Sound Tigers would answer 18 seconds later when Sim would jam a loose puck over the blocker of Providence starting net-minder, Kevin Nastiuk to tie the score at 1-1. Andrew MacDonald played the puck around the boards to Sim behind the net. The veteran forward came out from the right post and tried to backhand a shot past Nastiuk but the Bruin goalie was able to squeeze the post. The rebound fell to the ice and Sim grabbed the loose puck and chipped it in for his eighth goal of the season. Trevor Smith also assisted on the goal. Before the period would end, Lessard would give the Sound Tigers a 2-1 lead entering the third period, while on the power-play. Jamie Fraser made a nice play along the right-wing boards to move the puck to Lessard in the right circle where he skated in untouched and snapped a shot through Nastiuk to extend his point-scoring streak to six games. Sim had the second assist on Lessard's 12th marker this season.

Kohn would give the Sound Tigers some much-needed insurance with his fourth goal of the season, coming 13:05 into the third period. Mark Wotton sent a pass to Jeremy Colliton in the right circle who touched the pass to Kohn at the far point. Kohn walked in and fired a shot the eluded Nastiuk to give the Sound Tigers a 3-1 lead. Providence would add a goal late in the third from Marquardt but Lawson would close the door there on in to earn his 17th win of the season.

Both net-minders faced 30 shots with Lawson turning aside 28 while Nastiuk had 27 saves. The Sound Tigers were 1-for-8 on the man-advantage and 5-for-5 on the penalty-kill.

Tomorrow, the Sound Tigers will close out the weekend with an evening face-off at 4 p.m. against Portland. SpongeBob Squarepants will make an appearance as well as former Sound Tiger and current New York Islanders' forward Jeff Tambellini. The first 1,500 fans who enter the building will receive a Tambellini bobble-head doll and have the opportunity to meet him after the game at the team's autograph signing. For tickets or information on how you can receive group discounted pricing, contact the Sound Tigers' front office at (203) 334-GOAL or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.

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