Josh Ho-Sang skated in green with the Jones brothers today, which makes it look like he’s in tomorrow. After practice he had a meeting with the coaches. Even before he went in I’d been wondering what they’ve been talking to him about. “They’re talking to me about defense, playing defense, not turning the puck over,” Ho-Sang said. “At certain times, don’t make plays in the game, just dump the puck in.”
My second question was going to be if he sees where they’re coming from. “Yeah, I see where they’re coming from, where they want me to be in my development,” Ho-Sang said. “It’s all a process.
“It doesn’t really matter what I think,” he added with a smile. “I know reporters often ask, but it doesn’t really matter in the large scheme of things.”
So tomorrow will be another chance to see how things go for Ho-Sang, who’s got 13 points in 24 games, including one in the two games before he was scratched twice, and from whom Brent Thompson is looking for the likes of which he talked about last night. He seems like too good a kid and too bright a kid, and the desire to get this right seems to be there both ways, for this not to come together.
Anyway. On they go, looking for a win to get off the schneid. (It’s six out of seven, going back to the Phantoms game before the OT win in Binghamton.) A little later practice today after the game last night, and changes all through the lineup, though the top two defense pairs stayed together. Carter Verhaeghe was back on the left of Bracken Kearns and Steve Bernier. Michael Dal Colle was with Tanner Fritz and Travis St. Denis. Eric Boulton skated with the Holmstroms and Andrew Rowe, a four-man line that helped get Josh Winquist regular reps in his first full practice. Thompson’s not expecting Winquist or Christopher Gibson tomorrow, though he calls them day-to-day. How about Boulton? Thompson said they’ll talk about it.
Stephon Williams went the whole way. He said he’s feeling much better.
Springfield plays at Wilkes-Barre tonight, then is coming straight here.
Congrats to Anders Lee, who got engaged over the weekend. #Isles
— Brian Compton (@BComptonNHL) December 27, 2016
Ditto.
Hat tip to Ontario (goal and an assist for Sean Backman), Bakersfield, referee Mike Langin and linesmen Steven Berry and J.M. McNulty for a penalty-free game last night, the AHL’s first in a year and a half.
Soccer link: Well, this went well. (I should trust Kyle Martino on this, anyway.)
RIP, Richard Adams, Rick Parfitt and Jay Carrafiello.
And the Sound Tigers are going to see Rogue One tonight. Sure it’ll have a little different feel today. RIP, Carrie Fisher.