LIVE! NOR @ BRI - FINAL (4-3 BRI)

9:51 - THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Matt Keith, BRI - 2 goals, 1 assist
2. Kyle Okposo, BRI - Game-tieing goal
3. Justin Keller, NOR - 1 goal, 1 assist

9:49 - FINAL - And that's the game! Just like the Islanders, the Sound Tigers go five in a row and coming from behind as well. There's definitely something in the stars tonight...well...there IS a FULL LUNAR ECLIPSE...that might have something to do with it...BRI WINS 4-3

9:48 - 6-on-4 now..and a HARD dump by the Tigers goes off the linesman AGAIN and back in the zone...but he'll call the offsides..and Denis will be back..and there he goes...

9:47 - The Tigers will be on the PK for the rest of the period..and there goes Denis to the bench...

9:46 - Not a good time to take a penalty...delayed call on the Sound Tigers...extra man on for Norfolk...it's going on for a good minute....now the whistle is blown...and Smith will go for cross-checking...TIMEOUT NORFOLK

9:45 - Wow, Islanders win! First five game winning streak in 14 years...

9:44 - Tough three stars choice tonight...

9:42 - Okposo will dump and the Admirals will have another 200 feet...TV Timeout...

9:41 - The pace has sure slowed down tremendously

9:39 - Bridgeport seems to be lending back on that defensive style of hockey that has made them winners lately...it's working so far

9:36 - Happy Birthday Pascal Morency!

9:35 - It's a bit of hot potato now...but Jackman works hard into the zone with a good individual effort...and almost gets a shot off

9:33 - Tigers are buzzing...10:00 left

9:32 - Bourne and Smith get the assists

9:31 - Matt Keith just one-timed it from the high slot...looked like it was deflected...but it's past Denis BRI LEADS 4-3

9:30 - Okposo's a machine working deep in the Norfolk end...constantly moving his feet...thought he could've drawn a hooking penalty, but that's just me

9:29 - Shot by Pitton turned aside by Denis to the corner...

9:28 - The extra minor is up and we're back to even strength...Morrison gets a couple of shots fired at him and the Tigers clear

9:27 - Fraser and Bentivoglio get the assists

9:26 - Quick passing...shot by Fraser...rebound stuffed in by Okposo...we're all tied up and 1:00 of PP time left...TIED 3-3

9:25 - Looks like it's going to be a 1:30 5-on-3 for the Tigers

9:24 - There's an extra NOR penalty on the board...it's getting crowded in there!

9:23 - Jackman is in the box too...with Milley from NOR...nothing is up on the baord yet...

9:21 - Who got hit?? I'm trying to see....Leach is going into the box...and does Reggie. Smith was the one who got hit...they're sorting out the penalties now..

9:20 - Hit from behind on the Tigers..and Reggie takes exception...and we'll have a pileup.

9:19 - Sound Tigers to the powerplay...Lessard for holding

9:17 - Mo turns a Norfolk shot aside and goes up into the portective netting...and Section 105 just won the 50/50 again..how do they do it!?

9:16 - Close call with Mo down...good Tigers defense

9:15 - Two quick whistles to start the third..

9:13 - Attendance tonight: 4,147. What a Weds number!

8:55 - END OF PERIOD 2: Pretty back and forth period for the Tigers. Norfolk had the edge though. Time to catch up...it's a winnable game for the Tigers, and with Bingo down and Albany locked up with Rochester, the Tigers need all the points they can get.

8:54 - ONE MINUTE WARNING

8:53 - Regier is out...Tigers escape that on the scoreboard..

8:52 - 20 seconds left on Regiers penalty...Tigers looking strong on the PK

8:51 - Bourne is coming out...good PK'ing on that disadvantage...

8:50 - Tigers are getting called for another penalty...Regier for tripping...it'll be a 56 second 5-on-3 for NOR

8:48 - Bourne is gonna go to the box for interference. I think that's the first penalty this period...

8:47 - We've got 5:30 left in the second...SOG are 17-14 BRI

8:44 - Now a puck knocked down with a high stick on a Bridgeport shot...faceoff will stay deep in the NOR end..

8:43 - Quick whistle in front of the NOR net...

8:42 - tigers almost got it back again...Regier and Jackman trying to stuff it in off a Fraser shot from the blueline.

8:41 - Bracken Kearns comes into the Bridgeport zone...puts on a couple of nice moves and gets one through Mo's legs. It's back and forth...NOR LEADS 3-2

8:40 - It looks like Bourney and Haley will alternate spots on the third line. That seems like it could work...

8:37 - Colliton is up playing with Jackman and Regier now that Walter is not on the ice. With just 10 forwards everyone is going to see more icetime...and Jay Leach literally just checked the linesmen...and still preceeded to skate into him. Ha...

8:36 - Bentivoglio just went flying trying to hit Jay Rosehill

8:35 - SCOREBOARD WATCH: Toronto just upped their lead to 4 on Bingo.

8:33 - Good to see the Isles cut the lead in half at the second intermission...Keith with a wrister that Denis snags with his glove hand...almost looked out of reach for Denis.

8:32 - Pitton is playing with the fourth line...and we got some scrumming going on by the NOR net.

8:31 - Blair Jones just throws it to Morrison and he'll glove it easily. Faceoff deep inthe Tigers zone

8:29 - Okposo using his power moves again...gets stood up close to the net and goes sliding into the boards.

8:27 - Haley led Bourne on a breakaway...Bourney put on a couple of good moves, but Denis was strong between the pipes and shut the door.

8:26 - Matt Keith gets the assist. If there's something I've noticed about the tigers this year, it's their ability to get goals right back on the scoreboard. All the games I've been to they've never failed to answer immediately to an opposing goal

8:25 - Okposo with a nice passing play. It would've been nicer if someone was in front of the net...and Jackman just takes it into the zone and snaps a wrister through Denis's legs. Tigers tie it up again. TIED 2-2

8:24 - Radek Smolenak gets the goal, Paul Szczechura gets the assist at the :31 mark

8:23 - Rochester just tied it up on Albany, and Norfolk just took the lead on Bridgeport. It looked to a wrap-around goal that caught Morrison off guard. I'll get the official announcement in a min...NOR LEADS 2-1

8:22 - Ben Walter is missing from the bench for the second period. According to Mike Fornabaio, he only played one shift in the first

8:17 - SCOREBOARD WATCH: Albany leads Rochester 1-0 mid 2nd....Toronto ahead on Binghamton 3-0 in the 2nd

8:04 - END OF PERIOD 1: Well it was an OK period for the Sound Tigers. They got a lot of chances, but couldn't convert a lot of them due to a pass just out of reach or a blocked shot. Good playing helped them tie the game. I like the way they are moving out there, so it should be a fun two more periods.

8:03 - ONE MINUTE WARNING

8:02 - Wotton's shot goes off another Sound tiger...play still deep in the zone..Pitton cross ice pass to Matt Keith and he stuffs it in the open cage. Tigers tie it. Colliton gets the other assist. 1-1 TIED

8:01 - Sound Tigers seem to have trouble getting it out of in front of Mo

8:00 - Ford with a nice little open ice hit on Radek Smolenak

7:58 - Tigers are generating good chances, it just seems like the puck is just out of reach for a lot of those

7:57 - Puck out of play...we'll go to a "TV Timeout"

7:56 - Strong forechecking by Jackman...and then he snags one out of the air with his glove looking like he's playing centerfield..

7:54 - Second half of the PP not looking so well...and it's about to end....NOW

7:53 - Denis almost got caught out of position and saw a shot go through his legs which luckily for him Okposo couldn't tip in...strong PP so far, but can't get anything through

7:52 - Okposo fed Bentivoglio waiting in front with no one on him...unfortunately he couldn't hold on. He does draw a hooking penalty on Bracken Kearns...Sound Tigers to another power play.

7:51 - Lucky break for the Tigers...NOR clearing attempt went off referee David Banfield, keeping the play in the zone...shot from high slot goes wide..

7:50 - Ford ripped one off Colliton in the slot. the tigers really need to get out of the way of their own shots. Ford gets another chance out in front of the blue line which Denis sees all the way.

7:47 - It was almost 2-0 NOR if it wasn't for the defense...clearning a puck laying in the crease that Morrison clearly did not see.

7:46 - Bentivoglio with a nice deflection up close...just missed the net and Keller comes out of the box.

7:45 - Colliton got CRUNCHED by Jay Leach into the boards...he got pushed up off the ice a couple of feet...

7:44 - Good power move by Smith to get to the front of the net....he had Fraser waiting in the slot but he elected to shoot all the way. Denis made two good saves up close.

7:43 - We've got a Norfolk Penalty...the goal scorer Justin Keller is going off for boarding. BRI to the PP

7:42 - Not a bad crowd for a Weds night game...I'd say about 3500

7:41 - Dwyer shot deflected into the netting...faceoff deep in the Admirals zone

7:38 - Wow, Justin Keller just snapped one from the faceoff circle off the crossbar over Morrison's shoulder. There goes the shutout streak for MO...NOR LEADS 1-0

7:37 - Walter just shot it into the back of Jackman's legs...that could've been an easy goal. Scrum in front of Denis, puck ends up being cleared

7:36 - Ew, 2-0 WSH right now...this game is just getting underway.

7:30 - Starting for Bridgeport tonight: Okposo - Smith - Bentivoglio -- Dwyer - Wotton

7:24 - I gotta admit, a little part of me showed up here tonight just to see Steve Stirling. He's probably one of the nicest coaches I've ever talked to. Just an all-around good guy. I covered a Springfield Falcons game last year which he coached, and even though they lost pretty badly, he wasn't afraid to answer any hard questions I posed at him and always answered everything even-keeled.

7:12 - There's "Paralyzer" again...I'm just about done with that song LOL

7:05 - Pre-game line combos...

Regier - Walter - Jackman
Okposo - Smith - Bentivoglio
Pitton - Colliton - Keith
Haley - Bourne

Ford - Sertich
Spiller - Fraser
Wotton - Dwyer

7:00 - As expected, the scratches for tonight are Kip Brennan, Dustin Kohn, and Pascal Morency. Jeff Dwyer and Micheal Haley are filling in the spots left by Fata and Morency

6:55 - Both teams are making their way to the ice right now. Goaltending matchup looks to be Mike Morrison vs. Marc Denis

6:46 - New pre-game playlist? It's kids-get-in-free night tonight, so the Tigers are least hoping for a crowd over 2,500 tonight. Wednesday nights are tough attendance-wise

6:30 - I feel at home now...they're playing "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel here now as the fans begin to walk in.

6:10 - So I'm an idiot...I had thought it was a 7:00pm game tonight....I'm wrong, it's 7:30

5:55 - Leaders and Special Teams at a Glance

Bridgeport Sound Tigers:
29-24-1 -- 59 pts. -- 4th East Division
Goals - Steve Regier (16)
Assists - Ben Walter (30)
Points - Ben Walter (45)
Plus/Minus - Kohn & Walter (+6)
PIM - Kip Brennan (230)

Power Play - 44 for 291, 15.1%; tied - 22nd in AHL
Penalty Kill - 244 for 291, 83.8%; 11th in AHL
SHGF - 9; SHGA - 3

Norfolk Admirals:
19-29-6 -- 44 pts. -- 7th East Division
Goals - Kyle Wanvig (17)
Assists - Kyle Wanvig (28)
Points - Kyle Wanvig (45)
Plus/Minus - Jay Leach (+11)
PIM - Jay Rosehill (131)

Power Play - 42 for 275, 15.3%; 21st in AHL
Penalty Kill - 214 for 267, 80.1%; 26th in AHL
SHGF - 7; SHGA - 14

5:35 - So yes, here I am up in Bridgeport AGAIN, not taking a day off, even though my full-time job at the school has the week off! Call me a work-aholic...but tonight I'm back at the Arena at Harbor Yard as the Bridgeport Sound tigers take on the Norfolk Admirals, led by former Sound Tigers and Islanders coach, Steve Stirling.

The Sound Tigers still sit tied for 4th place in the East Division with Albany and Binghamton, but lead the tie-breaker with more wins. The Sound Tigers also have a game in hand on both teams, as both teams will also play tonight. We'll keep an eye on both of those games as well. Here's a look at the division standings...

Rank	East Division	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	PTS
1	Philadelphia Phantoms	57	36	17	2	2	76
2	Hershey Bears	52	29	18	0	5	63
3	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	53	30	20	0	3	63
4	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	54	29	24	1	0	59
5	Albany River Rats	55	28	24	0	3	59
6	Binghamton Senators	55	25	21	5	4	59
7	Norfolk Admirals	54	19	29	2	4	44

And with Drew Fata out of the line-up tonight, most likely we will see Jeff Dwyer back manning the blueline. Dustin Kohn has been skating recently, but he's not targeted to return until the weekend.

Doubt we'll see Pascal Morency in the lineup tonight, so Micheal Haley will most likely be back on the fourth line with Justin Bourne.

I'll be back with more later...