ABBOTSFORD, BC – Sean Bentivoglio scored two goals and netted the clincher in the shootout and Scott Munroe made 41 saves and stopped three of four shooters in the shootout to lead the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to a 4-3 shootout victory over the Abbotsford Heat Saturday night at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. The Sound Tigers won the shootout 3-1 and have now earned points in five straight games.
 
Special teams was a crucial part of the game, as five of the six goals scored in regulation were power-play tallies. The Sound Tigers were 3-for-7 with man advantage while the Heat were 2-for-5.
 
The Heat dominated the early going, out-shooting Bridgeport 18-8 in the first period and holding the Sound Tigers without a chance until midway through the period. Riley Armstrong scored the only goal of the frame, blasting a shot from the blueline that beat a screened Scott Munroe at the 6:25 mark.
 
Garth Murray gave the Heat a 2-0 lead five minutes into the second period on the strength of a power-play goal. Keith Seabrook ripped a drive from the top of the point which Seabrook re-directed in front of the net for his third goal of the year.
 
The Sound Tigers got on the board at the 7:10 mark of the second with a power-play tally of their own. Sean Bentivoglio took a drop-pass from Mark Katic and fired a shot past goaltender Matt Keetley for his sixth goal of the season.
 
Murray scored his second goal of the night midway through the second period to help the Heat regain a two goal lead. Armstrong sent Murray up the ice on a rush and he was able to hold of the Sound Tiger defenseman long enough to lift a backhand shot into the top of the net.
 
Bentivoglio tallied his second goal of the night early in the third period to bring the Sound Tigers within one. Greg Moore drove a slap-shot which Bentivoglio, set-up in front of Keetley, tipped-home to make it 3-2. Jesse Joensuu tied the game with 8:44 left in regulation. Joensuu took a feed from Matt Martin, skated into the slot and snapped a shot into the left corner of the net for his third goal of the year.
 
Both teams had opportunities to win the game in the final minute of overtime. Going for the hat trick, Murray was denied by Munroe and a breakaway. Then in the final seconds, Tomas Marcinko put the puck off the post as he aimed for a wide open left corner of the goal.
 
After Munroe started the shootout with a save, Trevor Smith put a shot through Keetly’s legs to give the Sound Tigers the early advantage. Jason Jaffray hit the post in his attempt for the Heat and then Greg Moore buried  a backhand shot after a nice deke move for Bridgeport. Mikeal Backlund buried a shot top-shelf to put the Heat on the board but Bentivoglio answered back with shot through the five hole. Munroe turned aside a break by Armstrong to secure the victory for the Sound Tigers.
 
The Sound Tigers are back in action Wednesday, November 25 when they return home to host the Manchester Monarchs. Face-off at the Arena at Harbor Yard is set for 7:00 pm. All children 12 and under will receive a free ticket to the game with the purchase of a regularly priced adult ticket. For more information or to order tickets, please call TicketMaster at 1-800-745-3000 or log on to www.soundtigers.com.
 
--SOUND TIGERS—
 
Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4 (SO) At Abbotsford Heat 3 - Status: Final SO
Nov 21, 2009 - Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre

Bridgeport 0 1 2 0 - 4
Abbotsford 1 2 0 0 - 3

1st Period-1, Abbotsford, Armstrong 2 (Carpentier, Negrin), 6:25 (pp). Penalties-DiBenedetto Bri (tripping), 1:04; Moore Bri (tripping), 5:10; DiBenedetto Bri (holding), 18:15; Pelech Abb (major - elbowing, game misconduct - elbowing), 18:15; Kronwall Abb (interference), 19:06.

2nd Period-2, Abbotsford, Murray 3 (Seabrook, Carpentier), 4:54 (pp). 3, Bridgeport, Bentivoglio 6 (Katic, Kohn), 7:10 (pp). 4, Abbotsford, Murray 4 (Armstrong, Cunning), 9:33. Penalties-Romano Bri (slashing), 3:33; Cunning Abb (holding), 6:00; Backlund Abb (holding), 10:49; Haley Bri (interference), 13:07.

3rd Period-5, Bridgeport, Bentivoglio 7 (Moore, Katic), 3:39 (pp). 6, Bridgeport, Joensuu 3 (Martin, DiBenedetto), 11:16 (pp). Penalties-Backlund Abb (tripping), 2:40; Smith Bri (boarding), 6:14; Seabrook Abb (interference), 9:38; Armstrong Abb (cross-checking), 11:41.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Bridgeport 3 (Smith G, Moore G, Bentivoglio G), Abbotsford 1 (Chucko NG, Jaffray NG, Backlund G, Armstrong NG).
Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 8-12-11-3-1-35. Abbotsford 18-9-13-4-0-44.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 3 of 7; Abbotsford 2 of 5.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Munroe 5-5-1 (44 shots-41 saves). Abbotsford, Keetley 0-2-1 (34 shots-31 saves).
A-3,737
Referees-Frederic L'Ecuyer (48).
Linesmen-Trevor Boudreau (60), Chris de Haan (50).

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