Knock it off: Springfield postgame

There was a game, and not a pretty game — well, take it back; not a pretty eight minutes or so — for Bridgeport.

But in the years to come, unless the season just goes haywire from here, this is gonna be the day David Leggio dumped the net on a two-on-oh.

And we have this goal to thank for it, Viktor Tikhonov, Alex Ovechkin and a picked-off Sergei Plotnikov coming in on Leggio on May 12. That was the latest two-on-none that Leggio had faced, and he hadn’t stopped many of them. But he realized he had an option, and Sunday, he took it.

“I figured I’d play the percentages,” Leggio said. He’s got a point. Would you rather face one guy with no rebound possibility, or two guys with a live puck? Leggio made his choice and made the stop.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. Brent Thompson said he’d never seen it before. Rule 63.5 calls that out specifically, that it’s a penalty shot. Leggio said Dana Tyrell had lost the puck by the time Leggio took the net off; I admit I didn’t catch that looking back and forth and trying to let register what had just happened. Will have to see if I can see it again at some point. One of the wackier things we’ve seen around here.

What may be more amazing is how it marked a turning point, in a way. At that point, I’m thinking that if Aaron Ness scores one more and becomes the first Bridgeport defenseman with a hat trick, I’m gonna have to call the boss and ask if I can write two sidebars.

Instead, Springfield got through the rest of that penalty kill and didn’t have to defend much for the next eight minutes or so.

“Our power play, we were a little sloppy on our breakouts, and the momentum started to change. Their penalty kill did a good job,” Thompson said. “The wheels started falling off after the breakaway. I thought it’d be the reverse.”

A 2-1 game became a 4-2 game in five minutes. Bridgeport came on in the third and got a short-handed goal, but no more. I didn’t need nearly as much space.

……

Here’s Aaron Ness’ other two-goal game. Unappreciated in his time: He won’t be the lead after either game, the first time because the fourth line (with Trevor Gillies scoring) started the comeback*, this time because the game got away from them.

Team’s off tomorrow; more Tuesday unless warranted.

Upstate doings: Ryan Malone’s on waivers. He told reporters in New York that he wasn’t sure if he’d report to Hartford if he clears. With recalls on defense after Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Klein went down for the Rangers last night (McDonagh, separated shoulder, worse than Klein), Hartford signed Dallas Jackson to a PTO.

Kevin Oklobzija talked to Dave Andrews on a few evergreen topics.

Former Sound Tiger Daniel Tkaczuk did a piece for The Hockey News on life after hockey.

Forgotten New York finds a renovated John T. Brush Stairway next to the site of the Polo Grounds. Neat.

And RIP, Nina Poeta.

*-Even on the blog, where Tony Romano, recently back from exile, got the first word. What caught my eye just now was at the very bottom. Norfolk had “won nine in a row, a team record.” How quaint.

Michael Fornabaio