AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Streak Snapped By Senators

January 14, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BINGHAMTON, NY - The American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, top affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, had their nine-game, unbeaten-in-regulation streak (7-0-0-2) snapped with a 5-3 road loss to the Binghamton Senators Saturday.

The Sound Tigers were perfect on the special teams in building a two-goal lead through first period. Jeff Hamilton extended his scoring streak to 11 games by notching his 12th goal of the season, on the power play, off assists from Rob Collins, his team-leading 25th helper, and Chris Thompson at the 6:36 mark. Jeremy Colliton doubled the Sound Tigers' lead to 2-0 on their next advantage when redirected a shot by Chris Thompson off a pass from Hamilton with 4:45 left in the opening frame. The Sound Tigers also killed both of Binghamton's first-period power plays.

The Senators shook things up at the start of the second period as the Binghamton replaced starting goaltender Kelly Guard with Billy Thompson.

Early in the middle frame, the Sound Tigers appeared to have taken total control of the game when Collins made it 3-0 with his tenth goal, and team-best 35th point, off assists from Matt Koalska and Colliton just 18 seconds after killing a full, two-minute, two-man Senators power play. However the home team rallied.

Binghamton's Charlie Stephens cut the lead to 3-1 with his 12th goal of the year off assist from Filip Novak and Jeff Heerema at the 7:14 mark.

Jan Platil put the Senators within striking distance at 3-2 with his first marker of the season off assists from Tomas Malec and all-star Denis Hamel at 12:01 during a four-on-four situation.

Binghamton then tied the score and took its first lead of the evening with a pair of goals 24 seconds apart as Steve Martins corralled a funny bounce from the corner while charging down the slot for his 15th of the season off assists from Brad Norton and Novak to make it 3-3 at 17:31, and Novak added his sixth at 17:55 off assists from Stevens and Heerema to make it 4-3.

After being outshot 33-14 through the first two periods, the Sound Tigers had a 13-5 advantage in the third, but the Senators got an insurance goal early in the final frame when Cory Pecker tallied his eighth of the season just 2:34 in off assists from Martins and Novak.

The Sound Tigers went on the power play with 1:31 left in the game and turned the advantage into a six-on-four by pulling netminder Cody Rudkowsky in favor of an extra attacker. They then went up six-on-three when Binghamton took another penalty with 11.9 seconds left to play, but Billy Thompson and the Senators closed the door for the 5-3 win.

Novak was the first star, Stephens the second and Billy Thompson the third. Billy Thompson made 20 saves on 21 shots in 40 minutes of play to earn the win for Binghamton who had a 38-27 shots on goal advantage. Guard stopped four of six shots. Rudkowsky made 33 saves in a losing effort for the Sound Tigers who were 2 for 8 on the power play and 6 for 6 on the penalty kill.

The Sound Tigers will continue a three-game-in-less-than-three-day weekend by visiting the Lowell Lock Monsters tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. They will return home to host the Norfolk Admirals in a special holiday matinee this Monday, January 16th at 1:05 p.m. on "State Employees Day" with free admission for all State of Connecticut employees who show valid identification at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard box office.

All Sound Tigers games are web-cast live at www.soundtigers.com. Fans can also watch all games live on the B2 Networks. Information about Sound Tigers ticket packages and promotions is available by calling 203-334-GOAL or emailing info@soundtigers.com.

Check out the Bridgeport Islanders Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from January 14, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central