The Bridgeport Sound Tigers closed out their week with an important 2-1 overtime victory against the Manchester Monarchs. Jon Gleed was the hero, providing the game-winning goal with 3:19 left in the extra session to extend the Sound Tigers winning streak to three games.
The first period displayed both teams’ high flying offenses and terrific goaltending. Manchester had several odd-man rushes early in the contest but Sound Tigers’ starting goalie, Nathan Lawson shut the door to keep the game scoreless.
With 2:29 remaining in the first period, Monarchs’ forward Corey Elkins tallied his 19th goal of the season to put Manchester up 1-0. Elkins took a pass from Marc-Andre Cliche in the near corner and then curled towards the right post, snapping a shot past Lawson.
The Sound Tigers’ best chance of the period, which had no penalties called on either team, came on a two-on-one rush with Sean Bentivoglio and Mike Radja. With his passing lane taken away, Bentivoglio elected to shoot, snapping the puck into the chest of Bernier with about a minute remaining in the opening frame.
With 25 seconds left in the second, Sound Tigers’ forward Matt Martin threw the puck up the near boards into the neutral zone where defenseman Jake Gannon picked it up. Gannon entered the Monarchs’ zone sent what seemed like a routine shot on goal that beat Bernier to the far side. For Gannon, the goal was his second in a Sound Tiger uniform, tying the game at one.
In the third period, neither team could find the back of the net however, Manchester came inches from the game-winner. Monarchs’ forward Bud Holloway ripped a shot that eluded Lawson but rung off the cross-bar, keeping the score at 1-1 heading into overtime.
Just a 1:41 into overtime, Jon Gleed scored his first goal of the season off a deflection in the slot that beat Bernier to his blocker side. Trevor Smith sent a turn-around shot from the top of the left circle on goal that deflected off a skate and onto the stick of Gleed who ripped the puck past Bernier to give the Sound Tigers a 2-1 victory.
Lawson, the game’s second star, stopped 26 Manchester shots for his 13th win of the year. Bernier put aside 28 of 30 Sound Tiger attempts.
The Sound Tigers have now hit the 30-win mark this season and have a record of 30-27-3-6.
The Sound Tigers travel to Norfolk next weekend to take on the Admirals on Friday and Saturday. For group discounted tickets or information on any Sound Tiger upcoming home game, contact the team’s front office at (203) 334-4625 or e-mail info@soundtigers.com.
