AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Win Final Visit To Philly 3-1

April 8, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


PHILADELPHIA, PA - The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, won their final visit to the City of Brotherly Love scoring once in each period and going 1 for 6 on the power play and 5 for 5 on the penalty kill en route to a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phantoms.

The Sound Tigers outplayed and outshot Philadelphia 9-3 in the first period and led 1-0 by the intermission on a power-play goal by Chris Campoli, his 14th marker of the season, off assists from Rob Collins and Justin Mapletoft at the 15:54 mark. Campoli set a single-season record for goals by a Sound Tigers defenseman and tied the franchise, career mark for blueliners, 14 originally set by Brandon Smith, on the play. The helpers were the team-leading 37th on the season for Collins and Mapletoft's 79th all-time as a Sound Tiger, a franchise record he will continue to re-set with each assist.

The teams continued an up-tempo pace and traded goals in the middle frame. First, Phantoms defenseman John Slaney upped a point streak to four games and tied the score at 1-1 with his 13th goal of the year off assists from Riley Cote and Philadelphia native Tony Voce at the 5:10 mark, but Justin Papineau regained the lead for the Sound Tigers at 2-1 just 2:22 later with his 16th marker of the season off assists from Ryan Caldwell and Mapletoft. Caldwell rang the initial shot off the post, but Papineau batted the rebound out of mid-air and past Phantoms goaltender Antero Niittymaki.

Jason Guerriero, who was named a First Team All-American this week for his standout senior season earlier this year at Northeastern University, put the game out of reach at 3-1 with the first goal of his professional career 2:04 into the third period off assists from Sean Bergenheim, in his second game back in the line-up after missing eight straight with a head injury, and Joe Tallari who is now on a four-game point streak.

With the teams about to begin on a four-on-four situation with 1:26 left to play, Philadelphia called timeout and pulled Niittymaki in favor of an extra attacker but could not score.

Campoli was the first star of the game, Mapletoft the second and Bergenheim the third. Niittymaki made 20 saves while Wade Dubielewicz made 19 for his 16th win of the season as the Sound Tigers had a 23-20 shots on goal advantage. The Sound Tigers were also 1 for 6 on the power play and 5 for 5 on the penalty kill.

The Sound Tigers will return home to Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard to host the Lowell Lock Monsters tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. and the Binghamton Senators Sunday at 4:05 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live at www.soundtigers.com.

The Sound Tigers will wear their all-black uniforms for both home games this weekend. The black jerseys will be auctioned off following Sunday's game to benefit "Swim Across the Sound". The first 2,000 fans who enter tomorrow's game versus Lowell will receive the fifth and final of this season's card sets courtesy of Painter's Supply. The final card set will feature Blaine Down, Dieter Kochan, Justin Papineau and Chris Campoli. Following Sunday's game versus Binghamton, the Sound Tigers will host a charity contest pitting the Bridgeport Fire Department against the Bridgeport Police Department. Proceeds from that game will also benefit "Swim Across the Sound".

Information regarding Sound Tigers ticket packages and marketing 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 invited to call 203-334-GOAL.

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