Bad breaks, perhaps-only-chance edition: Hartford (exh.) (H) postgame

In the regular season, this might be a night to lament controlling two periods with only a point to show for it, wondering what might’ve happened if some of those endless chances just went in, what could’ve been if overtime didn’t turn into a no-hope practice drill. (Complaints about tiebreaking gimmicks are evergreen, though.)

It is decidedly not the regular season, though. The noontime practice (featuring Nick Niedert in one net, BTW) on the new rink at Wonderland looked a lot more like the opening-night roster than the group that played on the old rink Thursday night.

That’s no knock. It was an energetic performance against some prospects and some potential Wolf Pack regulars. It’s just only so much about the result.

“My general thoughts, I’d say it was a great tempo and pace for an exhibition game,” Brent Thompson said. “The effort level was there for both teams. I’m going to focus on our team, and I thought we worked very, very hard.”

Bridgeport was credited with 14-5 shots edges in both the first and second periods.

“There was a lot of energy and character on our bench,” Thompson said. “I saw a lot of little details we’ve been preaching all week. I was glad to see that.”

I thought a lot of the guys you’d like to see do good things, did good things. Josh Holmstrom and Jesse Root, to name a couple, disrupting on the penalty kill. Carter Verhaeghe had a couple of points with Scott Allen and accidental winger Sebastien Sylvestre, who took Andrew Rowe’s spot.

Thompson said he and the staff was headed back to the office to talk things over. Possible we see cuts as soon as tomorrow.

BRIDGEPORT
F: 63 Scott Allen-52 Carter Verhaeghe-74 Sebastien Sylvestre
82 Kellen Jones-83 Connor Jones-32 Tyler Barnes
7 Danick Paquette-51 Tanner Fritz-76 Colin Markison
33 Andrew Johnston-13 Jesse Root-12 Josh Holmstrom
D: 14 Kane LaFranchise-56 Bryce Aneloski
41 Patrick Cullity-25 C.J. Ludwig
5 Dax Lauwers-42 Matt Finn
G: 30 Parker Milner
1 Jason Missiaen

HARTFORD
F: 14 Richard Nejezchleb-20 Adam Tambellini-17 Michael Kantor
52 Luke Curadi-22 Josh Nicholls-39 Domenic Alberga
26 Brad McGowan-37 Michael St. Croix-44 Scott Fleming
34 Stefano Momesso-47 Alex Krushelnyski-28 Paul Rodrigues
D: 4 Kodie Curran-45 Davis Vandane
25 Sean Escobedo-7 Samuel Noreau
46 Tyler Elbrecht-23 Troy Donnay
G: 30 Magnus Hellberg
31 Josh Robinson

R: Kendrick Nicholson, Furman South. L: Brent Colby, Paul Simeon.

Hartford 1 0 1 1–3
Bridgeport 0 1 1 0–2

First Period — 1, Hartford, Krushelnyski 1 (Momesso, Rodrigues), 6:32. Penalties — St. Croix, Hfd (slashing), 9:15; Barnes, Bpt (hooking), 14:14; Noreau, Hfd, major (fighting), 16:46; Paquette, Bpt, major (fighting), 16:46; Barnes, Bpt (tripping), 19:47.

Second Period — 2, Bridgeport, Allen 1 (Verhaeghe, Lafranchise), 17:45. Penalties — Verhaeghe, Bpt (tripping), 5:39; Noreau, Hfd (hooking), 8:02; Vandane, Hfd (tripping), 11:59; Rodrigues, Hfd (tripping), 14:12; Verhaeghe, Bpt (tripping), 17:59.

Third Period — 3, Bridgeport, Sylvestre 1 (Verhaeghe), 5:31. 4, Hartford, St. Croix 3 (Donnay, Fleming), 9:15. Penalties — Lauwers, Bpt (check to head), 9:57; Elbrecht, Hfd (tripping), 13:45.

Overtime — 5, Hartford, Curran 1 (St. Croix), 3:47. Penalties — None.

Shots on goal — Hartford 5-5-11-2–23. Bridgeport 14-14-8-0–36.

Power play opportunities — Hartford 0 of 5, Bridgeport 0 of 5.

Goaltenders — Hartford, Hellberg (21 shots-21 saves), Robinson 1-0-0 (10:07 second, 15-13). Bridgeport, Milner 0-1-0 (23-20).

Attendance — N/A. Referees — Nicholson, South. Linesmen — Colby, Simeon.

Furman South was a new name for me: former Robert Morris forward.

Could have sworn the primary on Bridgeport’s first goal was Sebastien Sylvestre’s. The box has it as a secondary for Kane Lafranchise. Anyway.

Rematch Sunday in Cromwell ($5).

Jaro Halak left practice early, Arthur Staple writes, status for opening night is up in the air.

Mark Louis found a home for this year with Idaho.

More tomorrow.

Michael Fornabaio