AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers win first of season

Published on October 11, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


Albany, NY - The line of Trevor Smith, Kurtis McLean and Mike Iggulden powered the Sound Tigers to a 4-2 victory tonight against the Albany River Rats. The win is the Sound Tigers first of the season. Smith, the game's first star, scored twice and McLean buried his first tally of the season, while Iggulden chipped in with two assists.

For the Sound Tigers, the power-play haunted and then came in handy, as they allowed a short-handed goal and then cashed in with a tally of their own while on the man-advantage. Mark Flood opened the scoring on the River Rats season, 14:17 into the first period. Nick Dodge fired the puck out of Albany's zone that Dwight Helminen chased down behind the Sound Tigers' goal-line. Helminen swooped behind the net and dished the puck in front to Flood who came up ice to join the play. Flood snapped the puck past Danis for his first goal of the season, giving the River Rats the 1-0 lead. Kurtis McLean would answer for the Sound Tigers, drawing a hooking penalty on River Rat defenseman Bryan Rodney with 30 seconds remaining in the period. Mike Iggulden walked out of the left corner and fed a pass to the front of the net. McLean grabbed the puck and chipped it over Albany starting goalie, Justin Peters, to tie the score at 1-1 with only 15 seconds left in the first period. Andrew MacDonald also assisted on the goal McLean first of the season.

In the second period, the Sound Tigers would take their first lead of the season when Smith scored his first marker this year. Iggulden pushed a shot toward the net that redirected off an Albany defenseman and fluttered toward the goal. Just as Peters was about to cover the puck, Smith lifted it over the goalie's shoulder, giving the Sound Tigers the 2-1 lead. McLean also had an assist on the tally coming 9:33 into the middle frame. Tyler Haskins would double the Sound Tigers' lead seven minutes later on a terrific individual effort. Dustin Kohn led Haskins with a pass out of the zone with speed as he came into the River Rats' zone. Haskins dropped his shoulder and drove the net from the left corner where he walked around an Albany defenseman, and Peters' attempt at a poke check before tucking the puck into the goal for his first of the season making the score 3-1 entering the third period.

Smith would tack on his second goal of the season about three minutes into the final period of regulation. The tally came on the man-advantage and Jeremy Colliton had the lone assist on the play giving the Sound Tigers the 4-1 lead. Helminen would cut the lead to 4-2 but it wasn't enough as the Sound Tigers collected their first victory of the season.

Danis earned his first victory of the season for the Sound Tigers stopping 30 of the 31 shots he faced while his counterpart, Peters made 25 saves on 29 shots. The Sound Tigers finished the game 2-for-8 on the power-play and 7-for-8 on the penalty-kill.

Tonight, the Sound Tigers will jump back on the bus and travel home to Bridgeport. Their game tomorrow night is scheduled for 4 p.m. against their Connecticut rivals, the Hartford Wolf Pack. This is the first meeting between the two teams this season. The Sound Tigers won the season series last year, 5-3-0-2. To listen or watch the game, check out AHL Live.

The Sound Tigers will have their home opener next Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. when they welcome the River Rats. For information or special ticket packages, call 203-334-4625 or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 11, 2008


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