Friday should be the pro debut for Michael Dal Colle, in No. 19. He’s expected to join the team in Portland later today when he’s reassigned from Kingston.
Everything this morning at practice — last one of the regular season — looked the same as it has. (Brief scary moment, though, when Stephon Williams had a puck miss his pad; was hurting, but he seemed to be OK afterward.) Brent Thompson wouldn’t bite on a where’s-Dal Colle-play question, but he did say they could try a few different things, and he’s hoping Dal Colle will help the power play. Three games to play with, of varying degrees of importance depending how the first one and some other games go.
So, things wind down. Bridgeport will be locked into fifth and the crossover spot Friday night if both the Wolf Pack and the Sound Tigers lose in regulation. A Bridgeport win or overtime loss keeps third or fourth in play, at least temporarily. (The math in the current standings would have you believe Bridgeport could still finish second, but Wilkes-Barre and Providence play on Saturday, so since one of them has to win, it’s guaranteed that one of them will finish with a better record than Bridgeport.) No Eastern Conference playoff matchup could be firmly set before Saturday; I think Hershey and Bridgeport are the only two in the Atlantic who could be locked into place tomorrow night.
Playoffs begin for the Big Club tonight. Alan Quine’s in.
Hartford has had both Magnus Hellberg (just what you want to hear: that your franchise goalie’s apparent eye injury “isn’t ‘too serious’“) and Marek Hrivik recalled since the end of yesterday’s game in Toronto.
The last RestWatch of the season is… kind of interesting. Bridgeport’s trek to Portland today isn’t fun. It continues on to Albany on Friday night, but at the same time, Albany’s coming home from Rochester. The difference, if neither or both go to overtime, is only about 45 minutes longer for the Sound Tigers. They play at 5 p.m. on Saturday in Albany. Coming home, with the earlier start, the Sound Tigers can expect to get to Bridgeport about two and a half hours ahead of Providence, which plays in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. The Bruins have Friday off but played Wednesday night, where, as usual, only Bridgeport can’t beat Springfield.
Another periodic reminder, if you haven’t voted, that the Fake Team Awards balloting is open.
Utica picked up Tyler Currier — the kid who came in with Springfield a couple of weeks ago for his AHL debut, had a goal and an assist and a sticking-up-for-his-teammate roughing minor, and then got released — on a PTO.
The Coyotes’ AHL team to Tuscon reports are back. Chris Roy reported that the Coyotes plan to buy the Springfield franchise and move it west.
San Jose’s Ryan Carpenter wins the Dupre Award.
And… “Czechia”? Hmm.