Classic stuff: Last week, the Sound Tigers sleepwalk through two periods and beat Hartford 4-1. This week, they lose in overtime and say they played better.
And they’re probably right. They were skating tonight, as Jack Capuano said. They outplayed Hartford, as Kurtis McLean said.
“It’s going to happen,” McLean said. “There have definitely been games this year we’ve won, where we’ve been outplayed and we got bounces for the win. Our goaltending has been good, continually. This is one of those games, maybe, where we outplayed them, they got one in the back of the net, and that was the difference.”
Wiikman was good. It could have been over earlier if not. Some shots had eyes. And then Hillen can’t get it out and Hartford scores in overtime, maybe with Pat Rissmiller on top of Peter Mannino.
It might’ve been scored by Michael Sauer, as credited, though that’s incredibly unlikely. It might’ve been scored by Brian Fahey on the shot. Either way, this Capuano quote holds up:
“Big goals are scored by defensemen. That’s what it always seems, every game I’m involved in, that’s what happens.”
At least they saved a point; if one of those late deflections goes in, it’s a lost night entirely. Big weekend ahead.
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Marcinko’s double minor was the first time we’ve seen the new rule in action. In past years down here, that’d be a major. The change brought the AHL more in line with the NHL.
First overtime loss in calendar-year 2008.
Possible future Sound Tiger Blake Kessel is on the junior national team.
I guess it’s a good thing Petr Prucha wasn’t here.
Two bits out of Columbus: Raffi Torres is hurt again; and once-burned-out Stefan Legein wants to come back.
Peter Laviolette is out in Carolina; Paul Maurice is back.
Former Hartford forward and onetime future Rangers captain Jed Ortmeyer was sent to Milwaukee as he returns from injury.
Augusta of the ECHL folded yesterday, putting the players in a bind. Tampa moved its Lynx guys to Norfolk for the moment.
And finally, leave this to Gerry Cantlon, keeper of the New Haven flame: Pit Martin, whom we prayed for the other day, was once traded for longtime Nighthawks coach Parker MacDonald.