The boys over here were talking about how this one’s an easy one to write long. Yeah, especially when all you’ve got is 459 words in which to do it. I should write the other four or five angles here.
Should, but won’t. But let’s highlight some of ’em:
—Play the feud. Fata-Aucoin is so intense it’s funny. They were at each other a few times during the night, then they gave and took at the end, leading to a near-scrap that turned scrap when Tim Conboy jumped Fata. Fata got out and went back after Aucoin. “He kind of gave (Fata) a little shot at the kneecaps at the end,” Jack Capuano said. “Drew took exception. Conboy stepped in and did what he had to do, sticking up for his captain.” From the Albany side: Brandon Nolan told the reporters, “I don’t want to say too much about it because I played with those guys last year, but you can’t be doing that. Next game should be spirited as well.” (Thanks to Phil Janack for all the ALB stuff, BTW.) Aucoin: “He gives it and I guess he can’t take it, because I give it just as much as he does. He seems to like the cheap shot. I try not to cheap shot, because it’s not my game.” (Ahem) Feb. 15 and Feb. 22, here; Feb. 24, back in Bridgeport.
—Francois St. La Nygel Pelletier. Pelletier’s misadventures continue with Tom Rowe going nuts at him for giving the Sound Tigers four five-on-threes against one for the Rats. Track down the Albany papers for some choice stuff. Bridgeport scored on two of them, including one of the two that lasted nearly a full two minutes. The Tigers racked up 11 of their 45 shots on the five-minute major to Jordan Fox in the second, which included 1:52 of five-on-three (five shots).
—“What’re you doing here,” Albany edition. How long have I been saying this about Aucoin? He found Petruzalek alone for the first goal. He made some other plays that just didn’t work. And then after a turnover at the Bridgeport blue line, he passed up a shot to go back through Fata and find Nolan on his own desert island. Dubielewicz didn’t even try to go back, because there was nothing to be done. Bang: It’s 4-2. One of the several stories I plan to do next weekend in Binghamton, even if it only ends up here, is something on Aucoin. It’s about time.
—Dubie Dubie Done. Heading back to the Island. Actually got a lot of this in.
—Powerful. The midseason report (on Monday, supposedly) will mention how bad the power play has been if you take out three good spurts (which is unfair, but still, when the percentage is sorry even with the spurts, how unfair can you be?). They went back to the five-forwards unit for the five-on-threes, then tried it on some of the five-on-fours, too, and it did well. There’s a lot of this in the story, too.
All of that is 460 words. Double your pleasure. Or something.
BRIDGEPORT
F: Tambellini (A)-Nielsen-Okposo
Smith-Walter-Bentivoglio
Keith-Colliton (A)-Bourne
Brennan/Haley
D: Fata-Ford
Kohn-Spiller (A)
Sertich-Fraser
ALBANY
F: Nolan-Aucoin (C)-Dwyer (A)
Gove (A)-Johnson-Petruzalek
Angelidis-Fox-Blanchard
Gillies-(Rodney-scratch)-Rechlicz
D: Borer-Conboy
Mormina-Carson
Babin-Flood
Just for Josh (see comments previous): Okposo on playing a lot in his first two weeks: “No big deal to me. I’m trying to come out and play my game every night. I feel pretty good.” Josh, he’s still good. Sorry to write about other people.
John Sullo’s sick. Stayed inside for a lot of the game. Hope to see him Monday.
Steve Regier’s practicing and shooting and doing OK.
Ooh la la, no Samson (injured). Disappointing.
Another good night for Haskins and Kinasewich.
Michael Sharp up in Bingo called our attention to Justin Mapletoft‘s two short-handed goals in the first period tonight (identical assists, too). That reclaims sole possession of the league lead with seven (Tambellini has five), as well as a team record (Langfeld).
And RIP, Allan Melvin, whom you’ll probably know better under other names…