BRIDGEPORT, CT - The American Hockey League announced today that Bridgeport Sound Tigers goaltender Kevin Poulin has been selected as the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 8, 2012.
Poulin went 4-0-0 and stopped 98 of 100 shots for a 0.48 goals-against average and a .980 save percentage, registering three consecutive shutouts and making a run at a 54-year-old AHL record.
Poulin entered the week having lost six of his previous seven decisions, but made 21 saves for his first shutout of the season in a 4-0 win over Worcester on Jan. 2. He stopped 24 shots on Jan. 4 in a 4-0 victory at Manchester on Jan. 4, and posted his third consecutive whitewash with 31 saves in a 4-0 win at Portland on Jan. 7. Poulin made 22 saves in a 3-2 shootout win in Providence on Jan. 8 but finally saw his shutout streak end at 221 minutes and 54 seconds – 27:57 shy of the all-time AHL record set by Hockey Hall of Famer Johnny Bower with the Cleveland Barons in 1957.
On the strength of his week, Poulin lowered his goals-against average for the season by half a goal (3.27 to 2.77) and added 14 points to his save percentage (.891 to .905).
A fifth-round draft pick by the New York Islanders in 2008, the 21-year-old Poulin has a record of 11-12-0 in 23 games for Bridgeport this season, and also made one start for the Islanders. The second-year pro and Montreal native split his rookie campaign between Bridgeport and Long Island also, going 10-5-0 with a 2.19 GAA and a .932 save percentage in 15 AHL contests and posting a 4-2-1 mark (2.44, .924) in 10 games with the Islanders in 2010-11.
In recognition of his achievement, Poulin will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Sound Tigers home game.
The Sound Tigers visit Manchester to take on the Monarchs this Friday, Jan. 13 before returning home for a two-game homestand this weekend. The Sound Tigers host their annual Pink Rink Night on Saturday, Jan. 14 when they welcome the Providence Bruins at 7:00 p.m., and close out the weekend on Sunday afternoon when they host the reigning Calder Cup Champion Binghamton Senators at 3:00 p.m.
Be sure to follow @TheSoundTigers on Twitter and "Like" the Official Sound Tigers Fan Page on Facebook. For information on group outings or full and partial season ticket plans, call the Sound Tigers at (203) 345-2300 or e-mail info@soundtigers.com
