You could probably tell from my social media patterns tonight that I was (a) covering colleges and (2) fighting Internet matters. So didn’t have much of a read on the Sound Tigers’ eighth in a row without a win until well after all three games were over. Another game where they appear to have done some good things; another tossup game they don’t win. It’s now tied for the third-longest winless streak in team history.
Things only seem to be getting tighter all around. The Whale lost in regulation; Mats Zuccarello, on recall, broke his wrist tonight and is out indefinitely, according to reports. Bridgeport’s three points behind the Whale; there’s a game Saturday in Hartford, so Bridgeport will again have a game in hand by the end of the night, but the lead could be up to five by then.
The Sound Tigers’ lead is three on seventh-place Syracuse is also three, there with a game in hand (Syracuse plays Rochester on Saturday). But: tighter. Seventh-place Syracuse and 14th-place Providence are separated by all of five points right now.
There were, in fact, seven games tonight involving Eastern Conference teams. In six of those, the team with fewer points won the game. The only exception? Norfolk, naturally, which doesn’t lose, and has won 19 in a row. The past 13 of those are in regulation.
Bridgeport’s power-play drought ended at 25, tied for the season long, and though it took a five-on-three to do it, the goal was apparently “#greasy.” John Persson’s first in the pros.
Referee Ryan Murphy worked his first Bridgeport game.
In his pro debut, Tyler Gron tonight became, including the backup-only goalies and the playoff-only skaters, the 350th person to wear the sweater during a game.
One more college game in Bridgeport (nice to see the Sound Tigers banners and Canadian flag still in place), and then they’ll paint in the trapezoid and get things cranking Sunday afternoon. Supposed to be a good crowd for that.
And RIP, Ron Stewart and Murray Lender.