Bridgeport Sound Tigers

On The Offensive: Isles Evaluations

January 22, 2012

The season for the New York Islanders is more than halfway over, having completed Game 46 of the 82-game season last night with a 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime. The win has brought the Isles to a 19-21-6 record putting them eight points out of a playoff spot behind the Washington Capitals sitting in the final, eigth spot.

As John Madonia pointed out in his post-game wrap up, these next two games against the Toronto Maple Leafs are crucial for the Islanders. For the first time in a few years, Islanders fans are able to find themselves in a position where they can start looking at the standings and sharing concerns about the success of other teams in their Conference. Two wins against the Leafs would hypothetically put the Isles at only four points out of the playoffs and see them with a .500 record.

The Isles are not in last in the Eastern Conference; they are currently out of the draft lottery; and John Tavares has emerged as an elite talent in the NHL. Part of the rebuild requires looking for signs of progress in all areas. Although those signs that are mentioned above don't necessarily amount to the hopes and dreams of most Islanders fans, they are still important. Slow and steady as she goes.

Draft Dodgers

January 19, 2012

Mike Flannery

2 Comments

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers and their fans had little to celebrate on New Years Eve, other than “Thank God that month is over”. Having gone one win in twelve December games, the only bright spot was that the win came against our in-state rival, the Hartford ‘Whale Pack’. 2012 had to be better, and it has been.

Invited by Rob McGowan, I was given the opportunity to join The Checking Line – Isles Edition as a writer covering The Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Bridgeport has not lost a game since.

Sound Tiger Suspected Of Theft

January 15, 2012

Mike Flannery

3 Comments

Bridgeport, like too many cities in the northeast, is struggling through bad economic times. Closed businesses and empty buildings dot the landscape. Well-intentioned projects are started and then abandoned due to a lack of funding, often leaving acres of property empty and unused.

The Webster Bank Arena is an oasis in the downtown Bridgeport area. Hosting a wide variety of events, it has thrived for ten years now. The arena is the home of The Bridgeport Sound Tigers and it is a Sound Tiger who is responsible for a number of recent thefts at the arena.

The Fraternity - An Early Morning Call

January 13, 2012

Mike Flannery

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The most anxious time of the year for me and many hockey fans is waiting for the season to start. Like a child waiting for Santa or a back-seat-brat asking every two minutes “Are we there yet?”, I cant wait. The late June NHL draft and notes from team camps and mini camps does little to satisfy my hunger for hockey.

In late August 2009, with the next season just a flip of the calendar away, I was as anxious as ever. The previous season was a good one for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. A tiebreaker away from being division champions, their 49-23-3-5 record for 106 points was not enough after a disappointing first round ouster in the playoffs.

The American League. . . No, Not That One!

January 12, 2012

Mike Flannery

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There are many differences between National League (NHL) and American League (AHL) players. Talent and dedication do not make that list. Perhaps that is why Islanders coach Jack Capuano refers to ‘call-ups’ as American League players and not minor leaguers. It may be because he coached the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, it could be that he himself was successful at the NCAA, ECHL, AHL, and NHL levels. No distinction. When Cappy makes the call to Sound Tigers coach Brent Thompson to fill a need, the Isles will get a talented, dedicated player who fits in seamlessly into the system.

The biggest difference (my opinion) is the fan experience. Parking? Not a problem and free to season ticket holders. Tickets available? Most likely and you can more often than not move to another seat as you wish. Drunken Flyer’s fans in the building? Not in Howard Saffan’s house! Player accessibility? Let’s talk.

Streaks End, Streaks continue

January 9, 2012

Mike Flannery

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The Bridgeport Sound Tigers had their streak of minutes played without allowing a goal end Sunday afternoon in the second period of their game against the Providence Bruins. Just over three minutes into the period a shot got past goalie Kevin Poulin stopping the streak at 224 minutes.

Two other streaks, however, continue. The Sound Tigers notched their season best 4th consecutive win with a nice 3-2 shootout victory over the Bruins. Solid in the exhibition period, four Sound Tigers; Sean Backman, Tony Romano, Kael Mouillierat and Scott Howes each scored.

Poulin Suffering From Rare Disorder

January 8, 2012

Mike Flannery

7 Comments

In a 1992 article for The New Yorker, the gifted writer Alec Wilkenson quoted an unnamed goaltender as saying “What other job do you now of where, when you make a mistake, a red light goes on behind you and fifteen thousand people call you a jerk?” Bridgeport Sound Tiger goalie Kevin Poulin is suffering from a rare disorder, an inordinate fear and hatred of red lights.

Poulin has now posted 3 consecutive shutouts, each a 4-0 win for Bridgeport. He has not given up a goal in calendar year 2012, approaching 200 minutes without seeing that hated red light. His first shutout in this impressive streak came on January 2nd, a matinee game at the Webster Bank Arena attended by Garth Show and Charles Wang.

Klementyev Says "Nyet," Isles Say "Goodbye"

January 7, 2012

Rob McGowan

1 Comment

The New York Islanders sent out an official press-release today stating that Russian defensive prospect Anton Klementyev has been suspended by the club for a failure to report to his ECHL assignment to the Idaho Steelheads.

Per the Islanders official press-release:

UNIONDALE, NY (January 7, 2012) – The New York Islanders announced today that defenseman Anton Klementyev has been suspended for failure to report for his ECHL assignment to the Idaho Steelheads. Klementyev began the 2011-12 season with the Islanders American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

DiPietro; Salt In An Open Wound

January 4, 2012

Rob McGowan

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(Photo Credit: xjowell/Flickr)

It was reported yesterday that Rick DiPietro was being sent home for medical evaluations before the road trip even began as he had sustained yet another injury to add to the many setbacks of his career. Mike Mottau was also returned to Long Island with an upper-body injury. However, the story surrounding DiPietro is that this guy hadn't been playing; he was already on the Injured Reserve.

You have to wonder how a guy like Rick finds a way to injure himself while he is already...well...injured. He wasn't playing in games, although he had been skating on the ice. And according to Art Staple of Newsday, DiPietro wasn't even close to dressing as a back-up for any of the games on this road trip that saw them play Carolina last night, Anaheim on Friday and Phoenix on Saturday.

Sharks Killed in Bridgeport

January 4, 2012

Mike Flannery

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With apologies to that great philosopher Forrest Gump, 'a matinee is like opening a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get.' A 1 o'clock game the same day as the NHL's Winter Classic, I was surprised at the crowd at the walk-up windows and the number of cars in the parking lot. Attendance was announced at 5945 and included Charles Wang and Garth Snow, neither of whom I saw in line for tickets.

Coming off a long road trip of 18 hours on the bus and a disappointing end to 2011( last place in the division with just 2 wins in the last 12 games), the Bridgeport Sound Tigers were about to face the Worcester Sharks (near the top of the division with but 9 losses in 32 games).