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SENATORS 4, SOUND TIGERS 0

Nov 30, 2007

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers were defeated by the Binghamton Senators 4-0 tonight, behind Jeff Glass’ 30 save effort, earning his second shutout of the season. Senators’ forward Alexander Nikulin scored a goal and three assists to carry the offensive workload for Binghamton in their second victory in as many games this season over the Sound Tigers.

Binghamton’s leading scorer, Denis Hamel, gave the Senators the 1-0 lead just over five minutes into the first period. Hamel gathered a drop pass behind the net from line-mate Cody Bass, took three quick strides off the goal-line and snapped a shot from the near boards over the glove of Sound Tigers’ starting goalie, Joey MacDonald. Nikulin also received an assist on Hamel’s league leading 13th goal of the season. Nikulin would increase Binghamton’s lead to 2-0 when he scored his fourth goal of the season. Nikulin collected a loose puck off the stick of Ilya Zubov in the high slot and sent a wrist shot the sailed over MacDonald’s shoulder. Jeremy Yablonski was credited with the second assist.

Hamel would add to his league leading goal total with his second of the game and 14th of the season, half-way through the second period, this time on the power-play. Sound Tigers’ defenseman Andrew MacDonald did a great job helping kill a good portion of the Senators’ man-advantage but misjudged a play by diving for a loose puck at the blue-line in an attempt to clear the puck. Niko Dimitrakos poked the puck forward before MacDonald could reach the puck to Nikulin who came in on a two-on-one with Hamel. Nikulin quickly fed a pass to Hamel who took his time and snapped a shot past MacDonald for the 3-0 lead entering the third period.

In the final period, the Senators would receive their fourth goal of the game when Nikulin threw a shot on net with Yablonski crashing. MacDonald made the initial save on Nikulin’s shot but the rebound bounced off of Yablonski’s arm and into the back of the net for Yablonski’s second goal of the season. Zubov had the second assist on Binghamton’s final goal of the game.

Senators’ net-minder, Glass, made 30 saves in his team’s 4-0 victory. The shutout was his second of the season. MacDonald, who faced 34 shots, also finished the game with 30 saves. The Sound Tigers were 0-8 on the power-play and 6-7 on the penalty kill.

The Sound Tigers will return home tonight for their game tomorrow against the Lowell Devils at 7:05 p.m. The meeting is the team’s third this season with the Devils winning both of the previous two games in Lowell, MA.

3 Stars:

1. Alexander Nikulin – Had a point on each of the Senators’ four goals
2. Denis Hamel – Scored two goals, both terrific shots
3. Jeff Glass – 30 saves for his second shutout of the season for the Senators
Honorable Mention. Andrew MacDonald – Played a sound defensive game and it is evident he is gaining a tremendous amount of confidence

Newest Acquisition: The Sound Tigers welcomed Joe Franke to their dressing room earlier this week as their equipment manager. Franke has come aboard to assist current equipment manager, Eddie Summers with the work-load. Summers is out of the hospital and is recovering quickly to continue his position as the team’s equipment manager with Franke.

A Scene out of Slapshot: Just over three minutes into the second period, Sound Tigers’ goaltender Joey MacDonald was involved in a fight with Senators’ forward Danny Bois. Bois, who instigated the fight with MacDonald as play moved up ice, ripped the Sound Tiger goalie’s mask off and threw a few shots that luckily, did not connect. Seconds later, defenseman, Joe Rullier returned to his goalie’s aid knocking Bois over with a hit and then climbing on top of him and landing numerous blows. Rullier received a game misconduct, MacDonald was assessed a five-minute fighting major and Bois got a five-minute fighting major and a total of 12 minutes for instigating the altercation.

Lineups:

SOUND TIGERS

Forwards
14 Blake Comeau – 21 Jeremy Colliton – 27 Darryl Bootland
7 Jeff Tambellini – 51 Frans Nielsen – 39 Steve Regier
10 Sean Bentivoglio – 9 Ben Walter – 16 Tim Jackman
8 Ryan Kinasewich – 19 Gregg Johnson

Defensemen
2 Andrew MacDonald – 6 Matthew Spiller
4 Mark Wotton – 40 Jamie Fraser
50 Dustin Kohn – 15 Joe Rullier

Goalies
35 Joey MacDonald (starter)
33 Mike Morrison

SENATORS

Forwards
15 Danny Bois – 12 Justin Mapletoft – 14 Greg Mauldin
16 Cody Bass – 41 Alexander Nikulin – 17 Denis Hamel
43 Niko Dimitrakos – 23 Josh Hennessy – 10 Tyler Donati
33 Jeremy Yablonski – 36 Ilya Zubov

Defensemen
4 Geoff Waugh – 22 Matt Carkner
28 Lawrence Nycholat – 18 Brian Lee
21 Mike Knight – 8 Tomas Kudelka

Goalies
35 Jeff Glass (starter)
1 Brian Elliott