First win: St. John’s Postgame 2

Since winning the very first meeting between the teams in St. John’s — Jeremy Colliton with the overtime goal on Oct. 21, 2011 — Bridgeport was winless in eight against the IceCaps going into Sunday.

Since breaking their first long winless streak of the end of last year — a big day for the PTOs and AHL-contract guys, including one Scooter Vaughan, on March 16, 2014 — Bridgeport was winless in eight at the Arena at Harbor Yard Webster Bank Arena.

Streaks over.

Couple of St. John’s goals early don’t get them down. They come back pretty well. They wear down the three-in-three IceCaps with the forecheck — “You saw (Saturday) night in the third we had spurts of it,” said Harry Zolnierczyk, whose three points go with the myriad other stuff he does — and dominate the second half of the game.

It’s Stuff You Need To Do, sure, but they did go and do it.

……

Asked if Aaron Ness’ injury sounded severe. Brent Thompson said he’d tell me if he had an “MD” next to his name. That said, Ness was walking around unaided in the room. Last scratch Brett Gallant was banged up, Thompson said, so they rested him for next weekend.

C.J. Stretch sat out last night, then had two assists tonight. “It meant a lot,” Stretch said. “I want to prove to everyone I shouldn’t be in the stands watching. I want to get in and show what I can do.” He liked the chemistry between him and John Persson and Zolnierczyk. “(Stretch) is going to create a little offense. He’s got good hockey sense,” Thompson said. “I’m glad he came in and played well.”

Kevin Czuczman gets the Gordie Howe, fighting Jordan Hill after cross-checking Ryan Olsen. Czuczman wasn’t made available afterward, getting treatment. Both fights ended poorly, though Czuczman made out much better than Nic Blanchard, who took a right to the chin from Andrey Pedan and had to be all-but-carried to the room. Hopefully he’s OK soon.

It’s at least Bridgeport’s seventh Gordie Howe hat trick; I’m not religious about checking for them, so I could’ve easily missed some. Got Justin Mapletoft, Sean Bergenheim, Eric Godard, Nathan Gillies, Brandon Nolan and Tim Wallace. If that list happens to be complete, Czuczman’s the first defenseman.

On his three-point game in his second game here: “You love to help offensively,” Zolnierczyk said. “My role doesn’t change much up top or down here. I have to have a physical game and use my speed.” He was one of many who came up big on the penalty kill, which allowed the IceCaps barely anything on their first four power plays (they scored on the fifth, the last goal of the game).

Hartford‘s first game is going to overtime in Syracuse at this writing. There was another three-on-three OT goal, this one for Toronto defenseman Viktor Loov, who’s on the All Name Team watch list (along with — see HFD-SYR box — linesman Shandor Alphonso).

Sacred Heart also got a win in its Game 2 against the same opponent in the same rink. Alex Vazzano made 39 saves.

From the funny pages, Bill Amend was not lying when he said last night that today’s Foxtrot was kinda nerdy.

And finally:

Eras collide.

Day off tomorrow. More Tuesday.

Michael Fornabaio