This changes everything

When I mentioned I was crunching those numbers yesterday? They were shooting numbers. Goals and shots and stuff like that. I was looking at an angle one way for the story, then realized that, no, the story here is the goal scoring — rather, the lack thereof. Got some quotes about it all, had a plan, was going to fill it out Saturday morning.

Seven goals, tying the team record, playing their best game in memory? Yeah, I think it might take a little reframing.

So what do you pin it on? The late arrival? Ken Morrow behind the bench? Buying in? Sustained energy from that first shift? I’d lean toward the last two, but you never know.

One thing’s for sure*: When Bridgeport has trouble getting to Springfield, 1) Something weird’s gonna happen; 2) Somebody’s scoring seven.

BRIDGEPORT
F: Bentivoglio-Walter-Regier
Comeau-Colliton-Bootland
Kinasewich-Nielsen-Jackman (A)
Haley/Brennan
D: Fata-Spiller (A)
Fraser-Wotton (C)
A.MacDonald-Rullier

SPRINGFIELD
F: Schremp-Johansson-McDonald
Trukhno-Pouliot-Jacques
Simon (A)-Sestito-Bodie
Flinn-(Peckham-scratch)-Reynolds
D: Syvret (A)-Roy
Young-Bisaillon
Berry (C)-Kemp

Hamden’s Jon Quick made his NHL debut Thursday night, got spotted to a 4-0 lead, made 15 saves and won.

Haley is wearing 18. Roy was wearing 6 instead of his usual 36 — as usual as a number can be for a guy on a conditioning stint. Apparently a jersey malfunction on 36.

Morrow was behind the forwards — Jack Capuano stayed close — and Bernie Cassell was upstairs, next to Phil Giubileo, and I’d hope he at least offered some color commentary.

Old habits: When Brennan fought, the announcer began, “Manchester penalty…” Caught himself on the repeat. You’ve probably seen me do the similar thing in the box score: “Giroux, Bpt (hooking)”…

Michael Leighton notched his fifth shutout, an Albany record. The team has seven.

The Amerks mess takes a misunderstanding turn. Just what they want. (Hat tip: Tris Wykes.) More from Buffalo.

Peoria’s Trent Whitfield and his wife, Colleen, are selling team-autographed Christmas ornaments to support the National Down Syndrome Congress. Their daughter, Alstyn, was born with Down Syndrome.

Saturday is the 20th anniversary of Ron Hextall’s (first) goal. (Were he still here, it would also be my grandfather’s 100th birthday.)

*-OK, two things’re for sure**.
**-OK, small sample size.

Michael Fornabaio