BRIDGEPORT, CT – It isn’t very often that the Bridgeport Sound Tigers out-shoot their opponents. For the first time in two months, the Sound Tigers did just that, but unfortunately for them,Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Dany Sabourin was at the top of his game. The goaltender stopped all 33 shots the Tigers threw at him as the Penguins sent the series to at least a sixth game, defeating the Sound Tigers 1-0, and tying up the series at two games apiece.

The game started out fast and physical, as the first period saw both teams playing at a frantic pace, exchanging odd-man rushes and playing end-to-end hockey. It also saw both teams finishing their checks, bringing a thunderous crash with every hit to a sparse 2,059 people in Bridgeport.

Bridgeport goaltender Wade Dubielewicz was the star of the first period, shunning all 14 shots the Penguins had to offer him, including a late four-shot flurry in front of the Sound Tigers net at the conclusion of the first stanza. As the first period came to an end, it became clear that whatever team scored the first goal, would have a huge momentum advantage.

The second period began and it was evident that special teams would prove to be important, as the Penguins and Sound Tigers traded power plays early on. As the Penguins Dennis Bonvie left the penalty box, the Penguins dominated the latter first half of the period, moving the puck quickly, and creating seamless cycles behind the net.

On the contrary, the second half of the period belonged to the Sound Tigers, kicking off with a Paul Bissonnette penalty to the Penguins at the 10:49 mark. A minute later, a delayed penalty call saw the Sound Tigers best scoring chance of the night. With Dubielewicz pulled in favor of a 6-on-4 advantage, Sound Tiger forward Justin Papineau fired a cross-ice pass to what seemed like a wide-open net. The next thing Papineau knew, Sabourin snatched what would’ve been the first goal of the game with his glove hand. A 1:05, 5-on-3 ensued thereafter yielding two shots, with no decent scoring opportunities.

The failed 5-on-3 conversion proved to be costly, as the fast pace of the first period returned in the latter half of the second, this time working to the Penguins advantage, putting themselves on the scoreboard for the first and what would prove to be the only time tonight. Maxime Talbot was credited with the goal as he threw the puck to the center of the net hoping for a deflection. Unfortunately for the Sound Tigers, but fortunate for the Pens, the puck deflected of Bridgeport’s Jeff Tambellini’s stick and over the right shoulder of Dubielewicz. This marked the first time in the series that the Sound Tigers found themselves trailing in a game.

“That’s playoff hockey,” said Sound Tigers head coach, Dave Baseggio, “one little play can cost you the game. It was a fluky play. The goaltending has been great all series.”

The Sound Tigers had a multitude of opportunities in the third period, firing 14 shots at Sabourin. Bridgeport had a second 5-on-3 opportunity negated due to a Sean Bergenheim interference call, but the 4-on-3 that followed only yielded one shot. Jeff Tambellini had the best chance of the third period, breaking in on Sabourin and attempting to slide the puck behind him. Sabourin’s big 6’4” frame made sure that the Sound Tigers were to be held scoreless, stretching his legs out along the goal line for the stop.

The Tigers continued to play desperate hockey, looking for that one breakout pass that could help them tie the game. The Penguins defense had other motives though, as they kept four players back, clogging the neutral zone and breaking up two potential Sound Tiger breakaways.

The Penguins continued to hold the Sound Tigers at bay, blocking many shots in the final minute of play with the Sound Tigers net empty. Robert Nilsson nearly tied the game up with 20 seconds left, as he had a wide open net to shoot at, but could not get a clean handle on the puck.

Game five is tonight at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 7:05 pm.

Notes: RW Jeff Hamilton (concussion), C Ryan O’Marra (eye), and D Allan Rourke (groin) are day-to-day for the Sound Tigers. C Luch Achino, D Dustin Kohn, and C Peter Tsimlakis were the healthy scratches for Bridgeport. The Sound Tigers out shot the Penguins 33-26. Three Stars of the game: 3. Talbot, WBS; 2. Dubielewicz, BST; 1. Sabourin, WBS.