Down 2-0 again (15 turnovers, Scott Pellerin said, “we couldn’t make tape-to-tape passes to our guys, but we made great tape-to-tape passes to them”), another comeback, another four goals in a row. This time they even made it five. They traded goals after that but hung on.
And right as they were hanging on, we got word that someone who’d seen the tape saw an assist for Matt Donovan on Matt Watkins’ goal. That gave Donovan three assists and four points, which is a first for a Bridgeport defenseman.
“I didn’t know it was a record,” said Donovan, who got praise for his all-around game over the last while from Pellerin. “I’m just moving the puck and letting the forwards to what they want.”
Brock Nelson, standing to Donovan’s left, nodded.
They’ve worked together well on the new-look power play.
“We’ve added Stromer on my left side,” Donovan said. “We like it. We like it a lot. It’s been working, and the second unit has been doing well, too.”
They’ve done well the past three days against Worcester, a team they had to beat if they wanted to have any chance after last weekend’s clunkers. Another big weekend awaits.
….
Four points back with eight to play. Hershey plays Syracuse on Friday while Bridgeport sits; Norfolk, Albany and Manchester all also play Friday.
David Ullstrom said he hadn’t been on the ice much since his injury before today; a little tired at the end, but did fine. Adding him and Strome sure lengthens the lineup. The spinning setup to Watkins was pretty nifty on both ends.
Nelson takes over the team scoring lead at 21-27-48. He’s second among rookie scorers at the moment, too, a tiebreaker behind Tyler Toffoli and ahead of Justin Schultz, who hasn’t played in the AHL since the beginning of January.
Neat: Video of the Marian Gaborik trade call.
And RIP, Stan Isaacs and Roger Ebert.