AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Win Regular Season Finale 2-1 In Overtime

Published on April 6, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, CT – The American Hockey League's 2001-02 Regular Season Champion and Eastern Conference Playoff Champion Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, beat the Hartford Wolf Pack 2-1 in overtime at home before a crowd of 8,150 in their regular-season finale Sunday. The win was the Sound Tigers' 40th of the regular season while the crowd was the second-largest in team history marking the second time they set that specific attendance mark this year.

The teams skated through scoreless first and second periods highlighted by several great saves by Hartford Goaltender Jason Labarbera and Sound Tigers Netminder Stephen Valiquette, who is now on a three-game personal winning streak while the team has won four games in a row.

Jeremy Adduono broke the tie with his 13th goal of the season 9:00 into the third period on assists from Trent Hunter and Daniel Tkaczuk. All three players extended scoring streaks to four games on the play.

Valiquette's bid for a career-high third shutout of the season was denied when Nils Ekman tied the game on the power play with his team-leading 30th goal of the year with just 3:01 remaining in regulation on an assist from John Tripp.

Defenseman Sven Butenschon pinched from the blueline and one-timed a shot past Labarbera just :51 into the extra session for his third goal of the season with Hunter and Eric Manlow assisting on the play. Manlow also extended a scoring streak to four games with his helper on the deciding goal.

The Sound Tigers were 5-3-11 in overtime games this regular season book-marking the campaign with Sunday's season-ending win and a 5-4 road loss in the extra session to the East Division Champion Binghamton Senators on opening night, October 11th.

Valiquette made 30 saves for the Sound Tigers while Labarbera finished with 23 for Hartford who had a 31-25 shots on goal advantage. The Sound Tigers were 0 for 3 on the power play while the Wolf Pack were 1 for 8. Butenschon was the number one star of the game, Valiquette number two, and Adduono number three.

The Sound Tigers will open the Calder Cup Playoffs on the road with games one and two of a best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinal versus the Manchester Monarchs next Saturday at 7:35 p.m. and Sunday at 4:05 p.m. Game three of the series will be played in Bridgeport on Friday, April 18th at 7:35 p.m. Game four, if necessary, will be played in Bridgeport on Saturday, April 19th at 7:05 p.m. The fifth-and-deciding game, if necessary, will be played in Manchester on Tuesday, April 22nd at 7:05 p.m. All Sound Tigers' games are broadcast live on "News/Talk 960" WELI-AM and at www.soundtigers.com. WSTC/WNLK 1400/1350 AM also broadcasts road games.

Sound Tigers' 12-game playoff ticket packages are on sale by calling 203-334-4625. Individual-game tickets for game three are also on sale at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard box office, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or over the phone by calling 203-368-1000. Tickets for game four will go on sale should it become necessary to play the game.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2003


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