The Sound Tigers had a tough weekend schedule but they managed to get at least one point in every game. One big thing I noticed was the poor officiating at the games this weekend. It was more evident than ever before, almost as thought they had it out for the Sound Tigers.
Sound Tigers 2, Charlotte Checkers 3 SO
For the second straight game, the Sound Tigers went to a shootout to decide the game. With no scoring in the first, both goalies had to come up big for their teams. In the first, Nathan Lawson made a couple key saves in the period to keep the game at zero. Charlotte out shot the Sound Tigers 12-9 in the first. The second saw Charlotte get on the board only 56 seconds in, as Jon Matsumoto put in a rebound on a five on three to make it 1-0. Four minutes into the third, Chris Terry put one past Lawson to make it 2-0. The Sound Tigers would respond with a power play goal of their own as Rhett Rakhshani beat Charlotte goaltender Mike Murphy with a one timer to make it 2-1. With time ticking down and on the penalty kill the Sound Tigers pulled Lawson. Justin Dibenedetto carried the puck down the wing and took a shot. Rob Hisey came in and backhanded one that got past Murphy to tie the game with only twenty two seconds to go, forcing overtime. Good chances in overtime made for some great hockey including some old fashion three on three. They would need a shootout to find a winner in this one. Charlotte's first shooter Zac Dalpe and Bridgeport's first Rob Hisey both tallied goals. The next two rounds went scoreless. Terry then scored for Charlotte to go up by one. After Lawson stopped Boychuk, David Ullstrom came down on Murphy and looked like he was going to pick the puck up on his blade but at the last moment slid it right through the goaltenders legs to even it up. Matsumoto then scored forcing Robin Figren to score to keep the game going but he could not beat Murphy. Charlotte won by a final of 3 to 2.
Shots: Bridgeport 37, Charlotte 37
Three Stars: 1.Matsumoto, 2.Hisey, 3.Terry
Attendance: 5,908
Sound Tigers 2, Manchester 1 OT
An incredible goal by Justin Dibenedetto in overtime lifted the Sound Tigers to a 2-1 victory over the Atlantic Division leading Manchester Monarchs. The first period looked almost identical to the one from last nights game, as there was no scoring in the first and the Sound Tigers were out played and out shot, making Nathan Lawson keep them in the game. Brent Gallant and Justin Johnson dropped the gloves and Gallant looked to have bested Johnson, hitting him with a couple good rights. In the second, Lawson was big, making a great kick save and stopping the puck right on the goal line later in the play. Manchester would score on the power play as a shot was blocked by Mark Wotton and bounced right to Bud Holloway who put it into the empty net, making it 1-0. Late in the third, the Sound Tigers would answer as Justin Dibenedetto jammed one through the legs of Manchester goaltender Martin Jones to make it 1-1. Brandon Svendsen stole the puck and came in on a breakaway but missed the net, once again making overtime necessary. Overtime gave us one of the best goals of the year and is in the running for best of all time, as Mark Katic took a shot from the point that hit a shin pad and bounced towards the net. Dibenedetto found the puck behind him and put it through his legs backwards. The puck went through Martin's legs and in the net winning the game for the Sound Tigers 3-2.
Shots:Bridgeport 27, Manchester 39
Three Stars: 1.Lawson, 2.Dibenedetto, 3.Jones
Attendance: 5,206
Sound Tigers 3, Binghamton Senators 4 OT
After being bumped around a bit the last two nights, Nathan Lawson got a rest, opening the door for Joel Martin to get another game in net. Seven minutes in, Binghamton would strike first as their captain Ryan Keller would come down on a breakaway and beat Martin to make it 1-0. it would stay that way until the second when Justin Dibenedetto got his own rebound and put it by Binghamton goaltender Barry Brust to make it 1-1. It wouldn't last long however, as on the power play Ryan Potulny put a one timer past Martin who had no chance on the play and made it 2-1. In the third, Jeremy Colliton found the lose puck behind Brust and slid it in to make it 2-2. The score would stay that way for just about three minutes as Keller would score his second of the night on the power play off a rebound to make it 3-2. The Sound Tigers had a flair for the dramatics this weekend as with twenty nine seconds left in the third, David Ullstrom tipped Mark Katic's shot in front into the net to make it 3-3 forcing overtime for a forth straight game. After a bad call by the official on Ullstrom, the Sound Tigers went a man down. On the man down Martin made a huge save and the rebound was knocked in by a high stick so the goal was called back. They killed a penalty but the pressure never let up and with forty six seconds left Kaspars Daugavins found the loose puck and put it into a the net past a splitting Martin who never had a chance, making the final score, Binghamton 4, Bridgeport 3 in overtime.
Shots: Binghamton 35, Bridgeport 30
Three Stars: 1.Daugavins, 2.Keller, 3.Ullstrom
Attendance: 3,699
The Sound Tigers have sent forward Jean Bourbeau down to the Odessa Jackalops of the Central Hockey League. Bourbeau has been playing great as of late and will be down to help Odessa in their playoff run. In 44 games Bourbeau has 3 goals and 5 assists while racking up 48 penalty minutes with the Sound Tigers.
