The Sound Tigers got their first win of the year against their arch rivals the Hartford Wolf Pack tonight with a 4-1 win. However, the score does not indicate how close the game was. Also, the Sound Tigers had four players who did not return to the game due to injuries.
The first period started off with a bang, when Sound Tiger Jean Borbeau railed Pavel Valentenko into the boards. Valentenko was down for a bit before getting helped off the ice by the trainer. During that time, Borbeau was jumped by Hartford's Dane Byers. Both received five minutes for fighting with an extra two going to Byers for roughing. The Sound Tigers would capitalize on the power play as Rob Hisey jammed it past the Hartford goalie. The puck was over the line, but the ref could not tell, for good measure Jon Sim hit it all the way in and was credited the goal making it 1-0. Poulin made a couple good glove saves keeping the Sound Tigers ahead. Shots in the period, for Bridgeport 13 and Hartford 8.
Sound Tigers would strike quickly in the second, as Jon Sim banked one off of Wolf Pack goalie Cameron Talbot and into the net to make it 2-0, only :45 seconds into the second. Tony Romano would score three minutes later for the Sound Tigers to put them up 3-0. With the game slipping away, Hartford put out their tough guys to try and gain some momentum. Justin Soryal and Borbeau dropped the gloves, and five seconds after that, Jeremy Yablonski fought Jared Nightingale; Yablonski threw Nightingale around like it was nothing. After Borbeau's bout, he left the ice and appeared to be hurt. He would not return in the game. With 2:15 left to go in the second, a scrum in front of the net, lead to Justin DiBenedetto getting mauled and being thrown to the ground. DiBenedetto would receive a double minor and be lead off the ice. He would not return to the game due to possible injury. Poulin stood on his head this period, seeing numerous odd man rushes, he stood tall and kept his shutout going. Shots in the period, for Bridgeport 7 and Hartford 11.
Poulin's bid for a shutout would fall short in the third, as Hartford's Devin DiDiomete scored on a crazy scramble in front of the net making it 3-1. This is as close as Hartford would come as Poulin kept shutting the door on everything the Wolf Pack threw his way. Jon Sim, who had two goals so far on the night, was hit in the nose area with a stick, and left the ice not to return. Also, Dustin Kohn did not come out after intermission to play the third period. However, the Tigers stayed strong and Jesse Joensuu put in a empty netter to make it 4-1. Shots in the third, for Bridgeport 8 and for Hartford 10.
THREE STARS
BRI – Jon Sim
BRI – Kevin Poulin
BRI – Rob Hisey
Bridgeport Lineup:
FORWARD LINES
Sim – Hisey – Rakhshani
DiBendetto – Ullstrom – Joensuu
Haley – Colliton – Figren
Bourbeau – Romano – Yablonski
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
Kohn – Hamonic
Katic – Reese
Motherwell - Wotton
Before the game, Scared Heart Men's D1 Hockey Team played American International College in a close and exciting game. Sacred Heart won 4-2. If you can get to one of these Sacred Heart/Sound Tigers Double Header days, make the effort, it is great hockey.
Their remaining games at Harbor Yard are:
Jan. 8 - vs. Air Force @ 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 5 - vs. Bentley @ 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 20 - vs. Holy Cross @ 12:00 p.m.
Feb. 26 - vs. Army @ 3:30 p.m.
