Wotton scores late in the third period to steal a point away from Springfield in a shootout loss
February 21, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
Springfield, MA - With the Sound Tigers trailing 2-1 to the Springfield Falcons late in the third period, it was captain, Mark Wotton coming to his team's aid, tying the score at 2-2 but the Falcons would earn the extra point in the shootout to beat the Sound Tigers 3-2 tonight at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA. Chris Lee opened the game's scoring in the second period on his third goal of the season. In the third, Rob Schremp and Viacheslav Trukhno tallied for the Falcons. Both teams would score twice in early rounds of the shootout but it was Shane Willis recording the game's deciding goal in the tenth round to win the game for the Falcons. The Sound Tigers earn a point in the shootout loss as their record goes to 32-17-3-4, giving them 71 points, four behind the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for second in the East Division.
The Sound Tigers dominated play in the opening period, out-shooting the Falcons 10 to three but neither team was able to break the scoreless tie. Jesse Joensuu had the team's best chances of the period while the Sound Tigers were on the power-play, seven minutes into the period. The Finnish winger had two point-blank shots from the right circle but Falcons' starting goalie, Dany Sabourin turned them both aside.
Lee gave the Sound Tigers the 1-0 lead, while on the man-advantage, 3:21 into the middle frame. Andrew MacDonald settled the play down in the Falcons' zone at the center point and then sent a pass to Ben Walter in the right corner. Walter skated off the near wing boards and saucered a pass to the high slot where Lee crept in from the left point. The Sound Tiger defenseman looked up and snapped a shot past the glove of Sabourin for his third goal of the season.
Springfield would even the score at 1-1 when Schremp blasted a slap-shot over Sound Tigers' starting goalie, Tobias Stephan's glove for his seventh goal of the season coming 9:03 into the third period. The Falcons took the lead two minutes later after Trukhno scored his sixth tally of the season. Stephan made a diving save on a Ryan Stone shot but the rebound fell in front to Trukhno who lifted the puck over the sprawled out Stephan, giving Springfield the 2-1 advantage. Charles Linglet also had an assist on the tally. Wotton would answer for the Sound Tigers with three minutes remaining in the final period of regulation. Joensuu fired a shot towards the net that went wide but bounced off the back boards and out the far side to Wotton who backhanded a shot past Sabourin. Jeremy Colliton had the second assist on Wotton's third marker this season.
Nothing was decided in the overtime session so the game went to a shootout. Both teams traded goals but Willis would finally score in the tenth round to win the game for Springfield, 3-2.
Stephan finished with 17 saves on 19 shots while Sabourin earned the victory, turning aside 21 of the 23 shots he faced. The Sound Tigers finished the game 1-for-7 on the power-play and 6-for7 on the penalty-kill.
Tomorrow afternoon, the Sound Tigers will play a matinee game at Arena at Harbor Yard against the Portland Pirates at 1 p.m. For tickets or information on how you can receive group discounted tickets, contact the Sound Tigers' front office at (203) 334-GOAL or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.
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