Edit: Hartford 3, Toronto 2, final. No clinch today.
Justin Vaive seemed optimistic yesterday after practice, but after today’s, Brent Thompson said they’ve ruled him out the rest of the season. He’ll need surgery on the upper-body issue (Thompson wouldn’t disclose) that has kept him out since March 23. “It’s obviously something we tried getting rehabbed, but it hasn’t been taking. He’s going to have to have surgery,” Thompson said.
“It’s a huge loss. Lookit, he’s a big power forward who has playoff-style hockey written all over him. He’s a good guy in the room, a good character guy. Yeah, it’s a huge loss. At the end of the day, it’s an opportunity for somebody to step up and take that role.”
Marc-Andre Cliche is the likely guy to hold that spot with Ben Holmstrom and Justin Florek, long-term, if all else holds. Obviously in the playoffs and with a parent club playing, the status quo is always tenuous.
Things otherwise looked the same this morning, lines-wise. Still nine defensemen out there.
Hartford and Toronto are 1-1 after one at this writing. A regulation Marlies win gets Bridgeport into the playoffs. Anything else prolongs the drama into the weekend.
If you were wondering what the post-NHL-season lineups looked like in Toronto (forwards, defensemen) and Albany, there you go.
Trevor Smith and Cory Conacher won another championship together, in Switzerland.
And media transactions: glad to greet new teammates, though sorry not everyone came with them.