Three years later, Jon Landry returns to the Bridgeport lineup tonight in Springfield.
“I’ve had a couple of weeks to get into shape,” Landry said. “I’m going to keep it simple and try to help out wherever I can. We’ve got a really talented group of young players. I’ll add in a little bit of poise, calmness.”
Looks like Landry pairs with Kane Lafranchise to go with the top two pairs from last weekend. In Game 5, he’ll be the last opening-night Sound Tiger (aside from the injured Stephen Gionta) to get in.
“For me (with Landry), it’s leadership, poise and an opportunity to help the power play,” Brent Thompson said. “That’s probably the big thing. (Devon) Toews has done a good job anchoring (the power play), but we want to have two solid units.
“His experience and vision, plus he’s got a heck of a shot,” Thompson added. “Kane, too, gives us speed, mobility against Springfield.”
Landry’s last game as a Sound Tiger was April 20, 2013, with quite a posse in the lineup with him. This was a 3:15-a.m.-factoid special, but looking quickly over the all-time roster, think there will be only one longer gap between games for a Sound Tigers skater than Landry’s: Noted Bronx native Kevin Mitchell’s, Feb. 1, 2003 to Oct. 8, 2006. (Rick DiPietro’s gap between conditioning stints, unofficial in 2003 and official in 2009, was longer.)
Steve Bernier’s paperwork is all in order, Thompson said, so he’s a definite go. They’re still waiting for a definitive diagnosis on Colin Markison and will go from there.
……
Unfortunately, I’ll be otherwise occupied tonight. Blame the weather. Listen to Alan at AHL Live and follow him, the team, the T-birds and probably others.
This should be the box (R: Mayer. L: Baker, Briggs).
Like last week, I’ll try to get caught up overnight. Should be at both home games.
……
And RIP, Bob McCord.