Halak clears: Saturday notes

Bridgeport has a very expensive, very experienced goaltender. Jaroslav Halak cleared waivers and has been assigned to Bridgeport. His sweater number is to be determined, but as soon as he’s here, he’ll be a No. 1.

“Obviously I’m excited about his experience, his leadership, the quality of goalie he is,” Brent Thompson said. “He can win you a game all by himself. To have his presence is exciting. He can help the young guys see the level they need to be at.”

The young guys’ save percentages have both fallen to .891 with GAA’s over 3. (Presumably one goes to Missouri, though no word yet which or when.) And Christopher Gibson, “at this point, it looks like he’s going to be out a little while,” Thompson said, which sounds like re-evaluation didn’t go particularly well. After splitting time three ways up top, Halak probably gets all the time he wants here.

Kyle Burroughs is back in town after his grandfather passed away a couple of days before Christmas. He won’t play tomorrow, Thompson said, getting his conditioning back. But with his return and Josh Winquist ready to go, and with a light upcoming schedule, Bridgeport has sent Carter Verhaeghe and Jesse Graham to Missouri.

No word yet on how long Travis St. Denis will be told to sit for Friday’s match penalty. As usual, he’s suspended at least tomorrow pending review.

USA-Canada this afternoon at 3:30 at the World Juniors. Still three possible quarterfinal opponents for them.

In the ECHL last night, Florida Everblades goalie Alex Nedeljkovic scored an empty-netter.

And Brown and Arizona State played your routine 8-8 game last night in the desert. (The company streaming that event sent me an email yesterday asking if I was as excited for the Desert Hockey Classic as they were. Admittedly my excitement has grown just a tiny bit.)

Michael Fornabaio