Can’t believe the backdating and below-the-folding worked on the first try. Between this and the liveblogchat that didn’t go all Hamster Huey, I’m starting to think our Web system actually works.
Anyway, the questions sent for the paper were assumed to be somewhat easier for the regulars here, what with the Nassau Coliseum visit (thanks for everything, Elmo), where they lost twice to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. That led directly into the first question, a remarkable league record…
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(1) Bridgeport has lost eight consecutive playoff home games, back to those back-to-back 5-4 overtime wins to open 2004 against Wilkes-Barre. (Games 5 and 7 in 2004; Games 3, 4 and 6 in 2006; Games 1, 2 and 4 in 2009). They are, of course, all by one goal, including five overtime games.
(2a) Steve Regier, 290
(2b) Justin Mapletoft, 240; Jeremy Colliton, 232; Rob Collins, 220
(2c) Sean Bentivoglio, 182; Trevor Smith, 173; Dustin Kohn, 157
(3a) Sean Bentivoglio had the hat trick.
(3b) Bobby Hughes scored for Albany.
(3c) It was rescheduled from Feb. 20. The River Rats’ bus crashed early on the morning of Feb. 19.
(4) Lenny DiCostanzo played for Portland.
(5) (d) Kurtis McLean only wore it late in 2008.
(6A) (b) “We never quit”
(6B) (c) “I can’t fault the effort,” a line that has tailed off a bit now that they’re having more-consistent success.
(People, people. “We battled” was Art Howe’s mantra every time the Mets lost. So, lurkers, give yourself bonus points if “we battled” made you shudder, even a little. Heaven knows we deserve ’em.)
(7) Milwaukee’s Mike Santorelli took Iggulden’s skills-contest spot.
(8) Syracuse, coming soon.
(9a) Staffan Kronwall hit Colliton.
(9b) Micheal Haley fought Kronwall.
(9c) They were goals Nos. 53 and 54 of the season for Giroux, a team record
(9d) That was the night Vermont played Air Force in the NCAA regional final. I was stuck in an odd spot at Harbor Yard.
(10a) Sean Bentivoglio scored the winner.
(10b) Mild-mannered Jon Gleed turned into Superman.
(11a) Manchester, 2003, is the only Atlantic Division team Bridgeport has ever faced in the playoffs.
(11b) Stephen Valiquette played goal. (Rick DiPietro was up with the Islanders.)
(11c) Former Sound Tigers: Chris Aldous, Mat Snesrud (DNPs, both) and Doug Nolan. Future Sound Tigers: Derek Bekar, Kip Brennan, Joe Rullier and Richard Seeley. Not playing was a “familiar predicament” for Snesrud because he was on Bridgeport’s Clear-Day roster but didn’t play. He even dressed for the double-overtime game in St. John’s but didn’t get off the bench.
(11d) Coaching matchup was Steve Stirling vs. Bruce Boudreau.
(11e) They were together in Lowell.
(11f) Bridgeport swept the best-of-five.
(11g) Um, I picked Manchester in five.
(12) 1c, 2d, 3b, 4e, 5f, 6a
(13) Fritz was alleged to have butt-ended Paul Bissonnette.
(14a) Samson was alleged to have speared Joe Callahan, who didn’t even realize it.
(14b) St. Laurent gave Albany two minors during the major.
(14c) Albany assistant Geordie Kinnear was ejected.
(14d) Bridgeport didn’t score during the major, though they scored two goals soon after it, including one that released his minor. (There were so many other minors going on there, I have his major as the controlling penalty for a grand total of three seconds… and that was four-on-three, so I’m not entirely sure that’s right.)
(15) Bridgeport’s best calendar year was 2003: 44-21-9-3 (T-OTL), a .647 percentage. Even 2002 was 45-25-11-4, .618, with no shootout effect.
Thanks for playing.