Looks like Bridgeport goes with the same lines and pairs, basically, that ended Sunday’s game (with the exception note that Niederreiter and Backman switch sides).
The goaltender might draw a little more interest. He plays his first game in Hartford since Feb. 21, 2003, the fourth-to-last AHL regular-season game before he went up for something resembling good. He beat the Wolf Pack 4-2 (Mapletoft, Torres, Hunter, Weinhandl), making 25 saves. He had been up with the Islanders with Chris Osgood out but hadn’t played in 17 days. “It was good to get back in a game,” DiPietro said back then. “It’s good to come back, come back to the boys. I have a lot of fun down here.”
He’s in tonight. One to scratch each way.
BRIDGEPORT
F: Persson-Nelson-Kabanov
Niederreiter-Watkins (C)-Backman
DeFazio-Campbell-Riley (A)
Halmo-Combs-Costello
D: Donovan-Wishart (A)
Ness-Landry
Jackson-McIver
(Hill-scratch)
G: DiPietro
Reiter
HARTFORD
F: Kreider-Newbury (A)-Segal (A)
Mashinter-Ferriero-Thomas
Haley-Tessier-Palmieri
Yogan-Jean-Carroll
D: Vernace-McIlrath
Pyett-Collins (A)
Klassen-Parlett
(Niemi-scratch)
G: Talbot
Missiaen
R: J. Hebert. L: Baker, Colby.
….
Holding up the equipment staff this morning was the last guy off the ice, not until almost noon after a 10 a.m. skate: Johan Sundstrom. Guess you can’t blame the guy. Out since a Jan. 19 blow to the head, he was maybe making up for lost time. How’d he feel? “Really good. A lot of fun. I’ve been waiting for a bit. … It’s progress, getting things back where they were.”
He’s still getting his conditioning and stickhandling up to speed; he’ll leave it up to the staff to determine when he gets back in. “Every time I’m on the ice, it’s a step forward. It’s a matter of time when the coach decides” he’s ready, Sundstrom said.
“It’s frustrating when you’re not with the team. It’s a great feeling now.”
….
Meanwhile in Providence…
I feel bad that DiPietro has to play in the AHL. How’s he going to survive 3in3s & bus trips? O yea, w/ 36M$ left on his contract! #suckitup
— Graham Mink (@GrahamMink21) March 1, 2013
March 22 there, April 20 in Bridgeport.