Fan Support

One thing that Ive noticed over the past couple season is the lack of support the fans give the team when they are down. It's one thing to be angry or disappointed with the play of your team but to start yelling because you think someone isn't playing well is unbelievable. I realize that some people who are into hockey don't get all the things that go on and thats okay but don't yell about it if you don't get it.

For example, in the game against Portland the other night, a couple people were yelling to pull Koskinen and giving sarcastic applause when he made a save. Thats uncalled for in a game like that. Koskinen stood on his head, by the time he was pulled he had seen 41 shots and hadn't gotten any help in the game at all. Most of the time players can't hear you but on a Wednesday game with half the people they usually get there, sometimes they do. It makes it feel like it's a road game for them and which makes it that much harder to come back. Even if they can't, people who are attending the game for the first time are going to think that the the team and it's fans are terrible.

Another example is the treatment people gave Nathan Lawson. Last year he played extremely well and everyone loved him and at the start of this year he comes out and is playing well but the team isn't in front of him, but people blame and ridicule him. Now, he is playing well and people like him again. Last night in Edmonton, Lawson was pulled for two goals on defensive break downs that were not his fault. People will go on and say he played terrible or doesn't deserve to be up there or that Poulin should start ahead of him, but once he plays again and does well, everyone jumps on the band wagon and says they love him.

Some people think that the players should be able to take it, and for the most part they probably can. The fact of the matter is, it can be disturbing for other fans who appreciate the good saves, and the bad goals. Also, most people don't like coming into an environment like that. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are looking to bring in new fans and keep them. We don't want all of that work to go to waste just because we need to ridicule our own team. We're there to support, and we should be supportive. Fans need to support players and the team through the good and bad. It is just frustrating to see that some fans can't support the players and the team when they're down or not playing well, because thats the time when they need it the most.

Sound Tigers fall apart in second, lose 5-3 to Portland

The Sound Tigers lost their second straight game last night, falling to the Portland Pirates 5-3. The game was even until the second, where the Sound Tigers came out flat and left goaltender Mikko Koskinen out to dry for the rest of the game.

The first period had one of the best fights of the season so far as Micheal Haley dropped the gloves with Portland's Corey Tropp. Both combatants threw some pretty good shots, with Haley getting the take down as Tropp lost an edge. As Haley skated away he was bleeding from the left side of his face and it covered the shoulder of his jersey, The only goal in the first came from Sound Tiger defenseman Marc Katic. Katic caught a pass from Brandon Svendsen and fired one towards the net that went past a screened Enroth and into the net to make it 1-0. Shots were 9 to 8 in the period in favor of Portland.

Portland took total control of the game as the second period wore on. With Mark Wotton in the box for goaltender interference, Portland's Paul Byron found the lose puck in front of the net after a blocked shot by Wes O'Neill and put it past a splitting Koskinen and the game was tied 1-1. About a minute later Maxime Legault took a shot using a Sound Tiger defenseman as a screen that beat Koskinen to make it 2-1 Portland. Just about two minutes Svendsen intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and was off to the races. On a breakaway Svendsen was stopped but with Enroth laid out in the crease, Svendsen found the lose puck and put it in to make it 2-2. Another screen gave Portland the lead again, as Justin Bowers put one past a screened Koskinen to make it 3-2. The Sound Tigers were out played in all aspects in the second except on the scoreboard. Portland out shot the Sound Tigers 19 to 12.

In the third period, the Sound Tigers came out with good offensive pressure but still were no where to be found in their own zone. Portland came out and midway through the third, scored two goals in a four minute span. Portland's T.J. Brennan found himself all alone in front of the net as he caught a pass and put it past Koskinen to make it 4-2. Then, Mark Mancari on the power play fired one through four players and into the net, 5-2. Koskinen never had a chance on the shot. From where I sit, even with Koskinen standing at 6'7 you couldn't even see him through the maze of players. Koskinen was pulled from the game and in came Joel Martin for his first appearance with the Sound Tigers. The Sound Tigers had a last ditch effort to come back as Mark Wotton threw one to the the net from behind the goal line and hit off of Enroth's skate and in to make it 5-3, but thats as close as it would get. The Sound Tigers out shot Portland 15-13 in the third.

Kevin Poulin called up to Islanders, Could back up Lawson if DiPietro can't play

The New York Islanders have recalled goaltender Kevin Poulin from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Poulin is being called up for former Sound Tiger turned Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro. In last nights game against Calgary, DiPietro went into a split to make a save and was immediately in pain. Although he managed to keep the puck out until a whistle, he was taken out for precautionary measures and replaced by one of Poulin's goaltending buddies in Bridgeport, Nathan Lawson. DiPietro has been declared day to day with an abductor strain.

Poulin has been called up to practice with the team while DiPietro recovers. If DiPietro is not in good enough shape to back up Lawson, Poulin will dress and back him up when they play Edmonton on Thursday.

In 14 games so far this season for the Sound Tigers, Poulin has a 10-4-0 recored. Best out of the three goaltenders with the Sound Tigers. He ranks 8th in the AHL in goals against average with a 2.13 and 7th in the AHL in save percentage with a 0.931.

Brandon Svendsen signs second PTO, while Chris Blight is released

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers have left winger Brandon Svendsen to a Professional Tryout Contract (PTO). This is Svendsen's second time signing a PTO with the Sound Tigers this year. When his contract expired over the weekend the Sound Tigers quickly got him to sign back. In 25 games this season with the Sound Tigers, Svendsen has 4 goals and 4 assists.

The Sound Tigers have also released right winger Chris Blight from his Professional Tryout Contract (PTO). In 13 games with the Sound Tigers Blight has 1 goal and 3 assists with 19 shots on goal.

Sound Tigers lose defensively dominated game to Providence 2-1

The Sound Tigers dropped their first game of 2011 in a tough 2-1 loss against the Providence Bruins. A defensive game that didn't see to many shots, tested both teams to make the most of the opportunities.

Providence would get on the board first, as Yury Alexandrov shot one to the net for his fifth of the season and made it 1-0. The puck seemed to have hit off a leg in front and bounced in past goaltender Mikko Koskinen. Worcester had six shots to the Sound Tigers seven in the period.

In the second, the Sound Tigers would strike. With Providence's David Ling in the box for tripping, David Ullstrom threw the puck to the net where Micheal Haley found the lose puck in front and put it top shelf tying the game 1-1. The power play has been on fire as of late, although it could not produce later in the game when they needed it. Sound Tigers led the period in shots 8 to 4.

The third saw the most offensive out of all three periods. A little over five minutes into the third, the Bruins would once again take the lead. Former Sound Tiger Jeremy Reich caught a pass in the slot and made a great move around Koskinen, then slid it into the net to make it 2-1. The Sound Tigers would try hard to get it back but would come up short. The best chance they had was when Brandon Svendsen found himself wide open in front but missed the net high. Providence would hold on to win the game. Providence had 11 shots to the Sound Tigers 7.

3 Stars:

#1.Jeremy Reich-PRO

#2.Micheal Haley-BST

#3.Zach Hamill-PRO

Nathan Lawson called up to Islanders as Roloson traded to Tampa

The New York Islanders have called up goaltender Nathan Lawson from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers today after trading veteran goaltender Dwayne Roloson to the Tampa Bay Lighting for defenseman Ty Wishart.

So far this season Lawson has played 10 games with the Sound Tigers going 3-4-2. He has a 0.898 save percentage and a 3.49 goals against average. He has played well so far this year, carrying the team on nights were the Sound Tigers didn't come out to play.

Lawson has been called up once already this season and played in one game. Nate faced the Phoenix Coyotes in his National Hockey League debut and played extremely well making 32 saves in a losing effort 4-3 in a shoot out.

New York Islanders acquire Ty Wishart from Tampa Bay, assigned to Bridgeport

The New York Islanders have acquired former 16th overall draft pick in 2006 Ty Wishart from the Tampa Bay Lighting in return for veteran goalie Dwayne Roloson.

Wishart was a stand out defenseman in the Western Hockey League with the Prince George Cougars and Moose Jaw Warriors. His 2007-08 campaign saw him lead all WHL defenseman in points with 67. He also was called up and played five games with the Worcester Sharks.

In 2008 Wishart was traded by San Jose to Tampa Bay in a multiple player deal which included Matt Carle, Dan Boyle, and Brad Lukowich. He was then sent down to Norfolk in the AHL. He tallied 7 points and was called up for five games with Tampa, where he recored 1 assist. In 2009, Wishart played with Norfolk where he scored 9 goals and had 23 assists for 32 points.

So far this season, Wishart has 4 goals and 14 assists for 18 points this season. When he joins the Sound Tigers he will be second in points on the team. He should give the Sound Tigers a good boost on the blue line and another weapon on an already strong power play.