On defense: Friday notes

Scott Mayfield didn’t want to comment directly on his three-game suspension, mostly just saying he hoped Steve Downie’s OK and that he doesn’t consider himself a dirty player, something Brent Thompson had just stressed.

“It’s unfortunate,” Thompson said. “It’s going to be a huge hole. It’s an opportunity for players to step up and play bigger minutes, but (Mayfield) is a kid for us, he plays a physical, edgy game. That’s what’s going to get him to the NHL. He’s not a dirty player, by no means. The league did what it had to do. Scotty understands.”

They thinned out their defense a little further by sending Patrick Cullity back to Missouri. That leaves seven eligible: The five non-Mayfields who played Tuesday; Jesse Graham, just back up from the Mavericks; and Matt Carkner, who has been out since Jan. 15. (That would seem to imply no imminent New York Islanders call-up, but stranger things have happened.)

“I didn’t want to carry nine defensemen,” Thompson said. “Grahamer being back, and we’re going to try to get Carkner, get that leadership piece back in. For me, it’s an opportunity for him to get sharp. They’ve got a ton of games in a short amount of time, so he’ll be sharp if we need him, much like Graham.”

It’s a pretty good RestWatch weekend for Bridgeport. The Phantoms play Springfield at home tonight (box here, eventually); the Sound Tigers will be in town to watch. Albany is off Friday (hasn’t played since beating Bridgeport last Sunday) and in Utica on Saturday, so the Sound Tigers should have about an hour’s head start getting home (though maybe a little less: TV game at Lehigh Valley, and overtime could muck up 10-15 minutes of that head start).

Bob Rotruck says Colin McDonald is out tonight for the Phantoms.

And RIP, Lou Friedman and Harper Lee. Edit: And Tony Phillips.

Michael Fornabaio