Remembered this game in, of all places, Binghamton — one of those comparable to tonight for absences off the Clear Day list. Here’s tonight’s chart:
HERE (10): Bentivoglio, Okposo, Sertich, Ford, Fretter, Smith, Keith, Fraser, Fata, Kohn.
UP (7): Spiller, Tambellini, Walter, Comeau, Jackman, Regier, Nielsen.
NOT QUITE BACK (1): Colliton.
SUSPENDED (1): Brennan.
INJURED (1): Wotton.
FILLING IN
AHL (5): Dwyer, Bourne, Haskins, Haley, Labelle.
PTO (2): Kinasewich, Desrochers.
Maybe it’s only a coincidence that things go to pot in seven minutes in the second period. Maybe it isn’t easy to get a lineup to jell that quickly. Maybe a lot of things could have gone better. It’s not like one or two guys cost them the game tonight; 14 of 17 skaters were on for at least one goal.
Either way, if some of these Islanders injuries are as long-term as they sound, this could be the group they’ll have. Jack Capuano sounded OK with that, as long as they keep working. They worked pretty hard tonight, he thought. (They just took a few shifts off.)
BRIDGEPORT
F: Bentivoglio-Smith-Okposo
Keith (A)-Desrochers-Fretter
Kinasewich-Haskins-Labelle
Haley/Bourne
D: Fata (A)-Ford
Kohn-Fraser
Dwyer-Sertich
BINGHAMTON
F: Hamel (C)-Hennessy-Mauldin
Zubov-Mapletoft-Dimitrakos
Weller-Nikulin-Bois
McKenzie/Yablonski
D: Kinch-Carkner (A)
Smith-Nycholat (A)
Kudelka-Waugh
Jeremy Colliton was in the room afterward. His flight was delayed, and he didn’t arrive until about 8:30. He’d have been in the lineup had he made it, Capuano said.
Nos. 25 and 28 (worn by Kinasewich and Desrochers) made their first BST appearances since ’05-06. Four guys have worn No. 8 this year, and three of them were in the lineup (Bourne, Desrochers, Kinasewich and Brett Pilkington).
Some freaky numbers from the Islanders game.
Sam Weinman chats with Stephen Valiquette.
Last night’s Norfolk-Philly game means the Phantoms can’t finish last and the Admirals can’t finish first. For whatever that’s worth, it’s the first thing we know for sure about the eventual East standings.
As seen on Patrick’s and Jonathan’s blogs, Miami reports that the Panthers are talking about putting their kids in the Coast next year. I’ll buy it when I see it.
Was referred to Letterman’s Top 10 list from last night: messages left on Eliot Spitzer’s answering machine.
And finally… Prep-Notre Dame again. Oh my.