AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Wallace's Hat Trick Gives Sound Tigers 4-3 Overtime Win Over Whale

Published on November 2, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Tim Wallace recorded a hat trick including the game-winning goal 3:22 into overtime as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers took down the Connecticut Whale 4-3 in front of 7,696 on Wednesday morning at Webster Bank Arena. With the win, the Sound Tigers improve their record to 5-4-1-0. The Whale's record now sits at 6-1-1-2.

The Sound Tigers jumped out to an early lead in front of the school-day crowd just 4:06 into the game. Leading scorer Justin DiBenedetto flipped the puck out of the Sound Tigers zone to Tim Wallace who led a 2-on-1 rush into the Whale zone. Wallace skated into the left circle, then fired past Whale goalie Cam Talbot for his first goal of the season and first as a Sound Tiger to give the home team the one-goal advantage. The Whale countered just over three minutes later when it took advantage of its own 2-on-1 rush. Mats Zuccarello entered along the left side and slid the puck to Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, who snapped the puck past Kevin Poulin's glove to even the score at one.

The two sides stayed even until the 13:32 mark of the second period, when Audy-Marchessault fed John Mitchell who snapped the puck over Poulin's blocker to make the score 2-1. The Whale increased its lead to two just 38 seconds into the third, when Audy-Marchessault deflected Zuccarello's centering feed past Poulin.

The Sound Tigers began their comeback midway through the third as Wallace continued his breakout game. Casey Cizikas made a great effort to fend off a Whale defenseman and carry the puck into the Whale zone. The rookie forward then fed the puck from the left circle through the slot to Wallace who beat Talbot for his second goal of the game to cut the deficit to 3-2 with 10:36 left in regulation. David Ullstrom evened the score with 6:42 left in regulation when he gathered a loose puck by the right circle in the Whale zone and lifted it over Talbot's glove for his fifth goal of the year.

In overtime, the Sound Tigers killed a Ty Wishart penalty before Wallace had his chance to play hero. Cizikas knocked the puck out of the Sound Tigers zone, creating a 3-on-1 for the Sound Tigers. Wallace carried the puck the whole way, skated in the right side before he drifted into the slot and ripped the puck past Talbot's glove, setting off the celebration in front of the Whale bench as the Sound Tigers completed the 4-3 comeback win.

Poulin made 33 saves to earn his second win of the season. It's the third consecutive morning game in which the Sound Tigers have netted a hat trick; last season, Jon Sim and Rhett Rakhshani scored three goals apiece in the Sound Tigers Cool Fun 101 and Spring Fun 102 games.

The Sound Tigers continue their homestand Saturday when they host the Norfolk Admirals at 7:00 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 2, 2011


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