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Jack Capuano and his coaching staff are given the responsibility of developing the upcoming prospects within the New York Islanders’ organization and to say they’ve done that this season is an understatement. Of the players that started the season with the Sound Tigers or joined the team halfway through, 15 were recalled by Garth Snow, in an effort to help invigorate the big club’s lineup with youthful energy.

Once the developmental part of the coaching is taken care of, the goal of the Sound Tigers is to win games. For the first time since the 2003-04 season, the team won 40 games, a major accomplishment for the organization due to the fact that many of the games, the Sound Tigers were playing with different lineups, consisting of numerous players who started the season in the ECHL.

The Sound Tigers completed their season on Sunday, missing the playoffs for the second straight season but that does not mean that this year did not have its share of exciting moments. Along the way, the fans were treated to some fantastic hockey games, so we’re going to look back and rank the Top 10, plus Honorable Mentions, of the season starting with 10-6 today. Look for the rankings of the top five contests next week.

Honorable Mention Games

1. 10/12/07 vs. Norfolk Admirals (2-0 Win) Highlights –

The Sound Tigers came into their home-opener against the Norfolk Admirals with a 1-0 record after spoiling the Hartford Wolf Pack’s home opener six nights before. Jeff Tambellini returned from the New York Islanders the day of the game and had a point on both Sound Tiger tallies coming on the power-play. Steve Regier opened the scoring when he deflected a point shot from Tambellini for his first goal of the season. Tambellini would record his first goal of the season on a one-time shot that went past Admirals’ starting goalie Ryan Munce. Joey MacDonald started in net for the Sound Tigers and earned his first shutout with the team, making 23 saves. The night was an overall success with the introductions of the team and the Born in Bridgeport opening video premiere.

2. 12/7/07 at Springfield Falcons (7-2 Win) Highlights –

Only once did the Sound Tigers pay a visit to the Springfield Falcons and the MassMutual Center this season. This one trip they took couldn’t have gone any better as the Sound Tigers defeated the Falcons 7-2. Frans Nielsen put the Sound Tigers on the board just 28 seconds into the first period. ECHL call-up, Ryan Kinasewich, from the Sound Tigers’ affiliate the Utah Grizzlies, scored twice and was the game’s first star. Steve Regier scored one of the prettiest short-handed tallies the team had all season as he beat two Springfield defenders to a loose puck in the neutral zone and wrapped the puck around Falcons’ net-minder Devan Dubnyk. Sean Bentivoglio finished the contest with a goal and two assists, while Micheal Haley scored his first AHL goal in his first AHL game.

Top 6-10 Games

10. 10/6/07 at Hartford Wolf Pack (3-2 Win) –

The ability to spoil another team’s home opener is always a thrill, but to do it against your intra-state rival makes it that much more special. This is just what the Sound Tigers did on October 6 against the Hartford Wolf Pack. Tim Jackman scored the first goal of the season for the Sound Tigers and also had an assist. Frans Nielsen buried the game-winning goal about two minutes into the second period.

9. 2/15/08 at Albany River Rats (6-3 Win) Highlights –

Albany goaltender Michael Leighton, who won the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the AHL’s outstanding goaltender for the 2007-08 season, gave the Sound Tigers trouble all season. On February 15, the Sound Tigers’ offense finally broke through. The team fired five pucks past Leighton with the sixth coming on Kyle Okposo’s empty netter. After a quiet first period, both teams combined for six goals in the middle frame. Justin Bourne and Regier opened the scoring but the River Rats answered with two of their own to tie the score at two. With less than two minutes remaining in the period, Albany seemed satisfied with their comeback and was looking to use the second intermission to rest up for the third period. The Sound Tigers did not wait as Trevor Smith and Tim Jackman scored goals 23 seconds apart to take a 4-2 lead entering the final period. Jason Pitton would increase the lead to 6-2 on a perfect back-hand shot over the shoulder of the Leighton. Albany would score once more but Okposo’s goal with five seconds left sealed the victory.

8. 12/21/07 at Hartford Wolf Pack (2-1 SO Win) Highlights –

Hugh Jessiman opened the scoring just three minutes into regulation and it seemed as if his goal was the only tally the Hartford Wolf Pack would need to walk out of the XL Center with a win. Jeff Tambellini had other ideas with less than two minutes to play. The Sound Tigers leading scorer, fired the puck from behind the Wolf Pack goal-line, off the skate of Hartford goalie Al Montoya to tie the score at 1-1. The two teams played a score-less overtime and in the shootout, the Sound Tigers scored three out of their four chances with Tambellini sniping the game-winner over the glove of Montoya, before the helpless net-minder even had a chance to move.

7. 3/1/08 vs. Binghamton Senators (3-2 Win) Highlights –

Colton Fretter joined the Sound Tigers in late February from the Chicago Wolves and immediately made an impact in his first game on March 1 against the Binghamton Senators. With the Sound Tigers already trailing Binghamton 1-0, Fretter would rattle off two straight goals in the first period to give his new team the 2-1 lead going into the second period. Steve Regier would tally the game-winner in the second period. The night was an overall success as the team honored Brent McCreesh and the “TeamBrent” and St. Baldrick’s Foundation in the fight against pediatric cancer. The players attended the “TeamBrent” fundraiser the following week and shaved their heads to support one of their biggest fans.

6. 3/21/08 at Worcester Sharks (5-4 OT Win) Highlights -

The Sound Tigers game against the Worcester Sharks on March 21 could have been the furthest away from this list but by the time everyone caught their breath in Worcester that night, the Sound Tigers were leaving with the important two points. Down 2-0 entering the final 20 minutes of regulation, the Sound Tigers wasted little time, exactly 29 seconds, to break their goose-egg with a goal from Fretter. About two minutes later, he would score his second marker of the game to tie the score, 2-2. Tyler Mosienko, who was signed to a P.T.O the day before, scored his first AHL goal in his first AHL game while the Sound Tigers were on the man-advantage to steal the 3-2 lead. With 39 seconds remaining in the third period, Tyler Haskins shot the puck into an empty Sharks’ net, seemingly winning the game for the Sound Tigers. Worcester however would mount a come-back of their own. The Sharks scored twice, 18 seconds apart to tie the score at 4-4. The game looked as though it would become one of the Sound Tigers’ biggest collapses of the season but Matt Keith would score his 10th goal of the season with 35 seconds left in the extra session to win the game 5-4 for the Sound Tigers. Drew Fata wound up and cranked a slap-shot on Worcester goaltender Dimitri Patzold that he stopped but the rebound trickled behind him where Keith was standing for the easy tap in goal that sent the team pouring off the bench in celebration.