AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Wotton's goal gives Sound Tigers first overtime win of the season

Published on November 8, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


Bridgeport, Conn. - Sound Tigers' captain Mark Wotton tallied his first goal of the season in overtime to complete the team's come-from behind, 5-4 victory over the Lowell Devils. Patrick Davis and Alexander Vasyunov put the Devils up 2-0 early in the first period, but were unable to hang onto the lead as the Sound Tigers rattled off four straight tallies from Jesse Joensuu, Tyler Haskins, Mike Iggulden and Joe Callahan. Lowell would not go down without a fight, as Davis and Vasyunov tied the scored at four with the third period still to play. Nathan Lawson, who came in relief of Sound Tigers starting goalie Peter Mannino in the middle frame, stopped all six shots he faced, opening the door for Wotton in the extra session. Kurtis McLean fired a shot on goal that Wotton was able to tip over the pad of Devils' starting net-minder Jeff Frazee to win the game for the Sound Tigers, and give Lawson his first professional win. The Sound Tigers now have a record of 9-3-0-1 this season and tied with the Hershey Bears for first place in the East Division with 19 points. Hershey is in town tomorrow evening at 4 p.m. as the two teams face-off for the first time this season.

The Devils put the Sound Tigers back on their heals early in the first period when Davis scored his fourth goal of the season just 2:10 into the game. Vladimir Zharkov and Jon DiSalvatore had the assists on the goal to give Lowell the 1-0 lead. It only took 1:14 for the Devils to take a 2-0 lead when Vasyunov walked out in front untouched from behind the net and chipped the puck past Mannino for his second tally of the season.

Joensuu would start the Sound Tigers' come-back attempt just over a minute later when his initial shot on Frazee from the slot was stopped, but the rebound squirted behind him. As Joensuu fought through a check, he saw the puck and pounded it into the open net to cut the lead to 2-1 in favor of the Devils. Haskins and Wotton assisted on Joensuu's fourth marker this season. Before the opening frame would expire, Haskins would even the score at 2-2. Chris Lee sent a dump into the left wing corner where Sean Bentivoglio dug the puck out. Bentivoglio timed his skate from the corner to the side of the net and found Haskins in the slot with a pass where he wristed the puck under Frazee for his third goal of the season.

The Sound Tigers would continue to pour on the pressure when the team's leading scorer, Iggulden scored his seventh marker of the season. Jamie Fraser led the play out of the defensive zone, slapping a pass to the far blue-line where McLean was waiting. As Trevor Smith created space by driving the net, a lane opened for Iggulden in the slot. McLean saucered a pass to Iggulden in the high slot where he snapped the puck through Frazee giving the Sound Tigers the 3-2 lead. Callahan would double the Sound Tigers' lead over Lowell three minutes later when he leaned into a snap shot in the right circle and buried the puck over Frazee's shoulder for his first tally this season. Jeremy Colliton had the lone assist on the goal.

With the Devils reeling after surrendering four straight goals, Davis was able to pull them closer scoring his second goal of the game and fifth on the year. Former Sound Tiger, Matthew Spiller had the initial assist on the goal and Tyler Eckford also had a helper making the score 4-3. Vasyunov would tie the score at four with his second goal of the game and third this season coming at 13:23 of the second period. Chad Wiseman and Eckford had the assists.

Lawson would only face four shots in the final period of regulation but was able to stop them all as did Frazee, who turned aside 10 in the third.

As the overtime began, the Sound Tigers were sending the puck deep into the zone and pressuring the Devils' defensemen. Fraser sent the puck deep into the Lowell zone where Colliton beat a man to the puck and fed a pass to McLean at the top of the circle. McLean fired a slap shot on goal that Wotton tipped as he skated past Frazee to clinch the win for the Sound Tigers 5-.4.

Lawson earned the win, his first in the AHL, stopping all six shots he face while Frazee suffered the loss making 28 saves on 33 shots. Mannino who was replaced in the middle frame had 10 saves on 14 shots. The Sound Tigers were 0-for-4 on the power-play and 3-for-3 on the penalty-kill.

Tomorrow night, the Sound Tigers will take on the Bears at 4 p.m. Both teams are currently tied for first place in the East Division with 19 points. For tickets to tomorrow's East Division battle, contact the Sound Tigers at 203-334-GOAL or e-mail, info@soundtigers.com.

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