Walter tallies twice, including the game-winner in Sound Tigers' win over Portland
February 22, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
Bridgeport, Conn. - It has been nearly two months since the Sound Tigers' offense has exploded for five goals. Behind the offensive punch of Ben Walter's two goals, including the game-winner, the Sound Tigers beat the Portland Pirates this afternoon by the score of 5-2. Pascal Morency opened the scoring in the first period with his first tally of the season and Mike Iggulden and Tyler Haskins also added goals in the victory. Colin Murphy and Felix Schutz had the two tallies for the Pirates. In goal for the Sound Tigers this afternoon was Nathan Lawson who earned his 13th win of the season, making 21 saves on 23 shots. The Sound Tigers now have a 33-17-3-4 record which gives them 73 points in the East Division and moves them within two points of the second place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Two minutes into the first period, Jack Capuano put his fourth line of Morency, Tomas Marcinko and Mitch Fritz on the ice to bring the energy level up on the bench. Marcinko and Fritz were behind the net battling with two Portland defensemen for control of the puck. Marcinko came away with possession and fed a pass to Morency in front where he snapped a shot that Pirates' staring goalie, Jhonas Enroth made the initial save on. The play circled back around the net and in almost an identical play, Marcinko centered the puck Morency who snapped a shot through Enroth's legs for his first goal of the season to give the Sound Tigers the 1-0 lead. Iggulden doubled the Sound Tigers' lead three minutes later when he added to his team lead in points on his 21st goal of the season. Jeremy Colliton and Jesse Joensuu had the assists on Iggulden's goal to give the Sound Tigers the 2-0 lead. Portland would cut that lead in half at the 15:42 mark of the opening period when Murphy finished a pretty passing play with Mark Mancari for his fifth tally of the season. Felix Schutz also had an assist on the goal to make the score 2-1. Walter would score his first marker of the contest two minutes later when he broke to the far post, opening a passing lane for Trevor Smith to feed his center-man the puck. Smith's pass hit Walter in stride as he redirected the puck past the right pad of Enroth for his 13th goal of the season. Kurtis McLean had the second assist on the goal to regain the Sound Tigers' two-goal lead.
Less than a minute into the second period, Walter would score his second goal of the game when he skated through the right circle and snapped a shot over Enroth's glove. The goal came unassisted and gave the Sound Tigers a 4-1 lead. Haskins was the next to join the offensive output 12:57 into the middle frame. Joensuu sent a cross-ice pass to Iggulden in stride along the left-wing boards. The team's leading scorer drew a defenseman towards him then saucered a pass to Haskins who caught the feed on his forehand, then dragged the puck to his backhand and slid the puck past Enroth for his fifth goal of the season giving the Sound Tigers a commanding 5-1 lead. Portland would tack on one more goal in the second period by Schutz but Lawson would then close the door stopping all nine shots he faced in the third period to give the Sound Tigers the 5-2 victory.
The Sound Tigers out-shot the Pirates 26-23 and were perfect on the penalty-kill going 7-for-7. Lawson had 21 saves while Enroth turned aside 20 of the 25 shots he faced.
On Wednesday, the Sound Tigers will take on the Albany River Rats at 7 p.m. at Arena at Harbor Yard, who will return to action for the first time after their terrible bus accident Wednesday night. For tickets or information on how to receive group discounted tickets, contact the Sound Tigers at (203) 334-GOAL or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.
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