Tomorrow’s stories will be a lot of ins and outs, so here’s a sneak preview…
IN: Tomi Pettinen from the Islanders, who was at practice today. Mark Lee from Trenton, who was not. Probably Rob Collins (the better bet) and Jeff Hamilton.
OUT: The three guys up to the Isles last night, Bouchard, Smith and Nilsson. Matt Koalska was out sick today but was hoped to be good for tomorrow at Lowell.
IN LIMBO: Vince Macri. Dave Baseggio would only say “coach’s decision,” declining to comment or clarify further.
A bunch of kids were hanging around after practice for autographs. Steve Regier and Jeff Hamilton were the last ones off the ice, and Regier passed out pucks. Hamilton offered me one, but I turned him down. Somewhere around here, I still have the practice puck I found three years ago under the popcorn machine on the third floor of the Arena at Harbor Yard.