Unsung hero: Andy Sertich.
As usual on a line with Micheal Haley and the variable, Kip Brennan was out with Andy Sertich, who was in at forward tonight after Tambellini got the call. Sertich plucked the puck away from a defender, put a shot on, and left a rebound for Brennan to roof under the crossbar. It would get a bit more involved later.
Our third star, No. 37, Kip Brennan…
So yeah, he had the goal. He could have had an assist in the second period, but Devan Dubnyk made a save. And the fight…
Gerry Cantlon reminded me that Godard-Wilson, back in the 8-0 debacle at the end of 2002-03, is probably the only thing reminiscent of Brennan-T.J. Reynolds in this team’s history. Brennan grazed him, grazed the top of his head, stunned him with an short uppercut and knocked him down with a right to the left side of the head. Good night, Mr. Reynolds.
That left both teams with five defensemen. For Bridgeport, that included Sertich, who’d moved back after Mark Wotton left with an injury.
Our second star, No. 33, Mike Morrison…
It was 6-0, wasn’t it? Bridgeport put four behind Dubnyk and two behind Morrison. He made good saves, big saves, tough saves. What beat him? A pass from the corner that deflected in off Jamie Fraser, and a shot from the circle to his right that hit Matthew Spiller, deflected to Morrison’s left to Scott Ford, hit him and caromed into the net. Can a guy catch a break? I think he went and signed autographs after that, too.
Our first star, No. 12…
You know.
I’ve been calling it Okposomania since Christmas now, and yeah, if this was his Sullivan show, he followed through. Friday, he looked comfortable; Saturday, he looked confident. Friday, he fit in; Saturday, he stood out.
Give-and-go with Frans Nielsen: one point. Off a nice Bentivoglio pass, a shot that deflects up off Rick Berry’s stick and over Dubnyk’s glove: two points. Pass back to Ford for his first goal: Three points.
Five points in two games.
Yeah, they’ll keep him.
Until someone takes him.
(Yeah, I went the other way, but Bentivoglio is a fine and worthy choice.)
BRIDGEPORT
F: Bentivoglio-Nielsen-Okposo
Smith-Walter-Sertich
Pitton-Colliton (A)-Keith
Brennan/Haley
D: Fata-Ford
Kohn-Spiller (A)
Fraser-Wotton (C)
SPRINGFIELD
F: Jacques-Pouliot-Reddox
Schremp-Simon (A)-McDonald
Almtorp-Sestito-O’Marra
Trukhno-(Goulet-scratch)-Bodie
D: Berry (C)-Kemp
Peckham-Roy (A)
Young-Reynolds
Would have liked to have asked Capuano about what he was yelling at them late in the first, when they couldn’t get out of their own zone. But, you know, all Okposo, all the time. (I hilariously misremembered when that was and asked Brennan about the first five or six minutes. Duh — it was the last five or six minutes.)
Okposo, by the way, was the 36th man to play for the Sound Tigers this season. The record is 48, each of the past two seasons (though there were two more in the playoffs two years ago).
There is no rule listed for Fata’s game misconduct. Heard one thing about it, and it could have been a couple of other things, though those would have been a little harsh. No early word on Wotton, either, though he was walking around after the game and meeting up with old buddy Rick Berry.
Had a chat with Ryan O’Marra that will probably go in the notes Thursday. Allan Rourke was out with an ankle injury he suffered Friday night; he drove down himself.
A mysterious text message noted that the Falcons had no numbers on their helmets…
Bingo Press+Sun Bulletin writer Michael Sharp passed on these reactions to Okposo’s first game: “He looked pretty good,” Greg Mauldin said. “I saw him play when I was over in Sweden. He was with the World Junior team. He looked really good. … Seventh-overall pick, so I mean, obviously he has some skill. I think anytime you make a jump from college to pro it’s a little bit different. It’s pretty rare that guys aren’t a little bit nervous or anything like that.” Former North Dakota defenseman Brian Lee said: “He’s a great player. I played against him in college, and played with him last year at the World Junior Championship over in Sweden. So I knew he was going to be a great player, bring a lot to the table. And I think he really showed that tonight.”
Brandon Nolan goes back up, along with Tim Conboy.
Was on Hockey Night on Long Island this afternoon, if you want to go back, listen to the archive and make fun of my answers. Thanks to those guys for having me on.