The same 15 forwards, nine defensemen, three goalies, in the same array (even in the usual colored jerseys, which gets unusual at this time of year) this morning for the Sound Tigers. “We’ve got our guys who’ve earned the right to be here at the end of the year,” Brent Thompson said. Everyone there should be available (that’s the roster minus Whitney, Rowe and Vaive), though Thompson hedged a little on Kyle Burroughs.
The Marlies will be on shortly. James Mirtle on their off-ice perks. A whole bunch of their equipment and gear was here long before they were.
They’ll present a challenge. “Their D are active. They’re a great hockey team. They’re a puck-possession team,” Thompson said. “We have to defend hard, be on our toes and play our game. Our game plan hasn’t changed. We’ll play our style of hockey. Whichever team plays its style better will win.”
Told today that Justin Vaive’s surgery went well yesterday. Up top, Ryan Pulock is out 1-2 weeks with an injury from Wednesday night.
In Rockford last night, Lake Erie, the only team with a longer playoff drought than Bridgeport’s (it dates to the IHL), handled Rockford for the second night in a row and can win its first series in the AHL on Saturday night at home. In Wilkes-Barre, Daniel Sprong tipped in a Kael Mouillierat pass to the left post 5:13 into overtime, and the Penguins head to Providence with a 2-0 series lead, both overtime games. The Pens came back from 2-0 down Thursday to take a lead, then withstood Frank Vatrano’s power-play goal early in the third that tied it. The Penguins can finish the job Saturday, Monday or Tuesday in Providence. Out in Texas, San Diego broke a tie late in the second period and beat the Stars 3-1 in Game 1.
Bridgeport-Toronto is the only series that hasn’t yet started that won’t start Friday.
Too early to say traffic advisory for Sunday, but… (The usual “no politics in the comments” request.)
And a tip of the cap to Jake Arrieta.