Dieter Kochan made 19 saves for his fifth shutout of the season, leading Bridgeport to a 2-0 win in Norfolk on Sunday and clinching a berth in the Calder Cup 2004 Playoffs for the Sound Tigers.
Bridgeport will be making its third trip to the postseason in as many years since joining the AHL in 2001-02. The Sound Tigers went all the way to the Calder Cup Finals in their inaugural season, then got as far as the conference semifinals in 2003.
The Tigers are the ninth team to qualify for the 20-team playoff field. Two more weeks remain in the AHL’s regular season before the postseason begins around April 14.
