The initial shot came from Kenny Agostino in the right circle, and it hit the post. The ricochet caromed out to Matt Grzelcyk in the left circle… and he hit the other post.
Christopher Gibson said the hockey gods were looking out for him. I laughed about how the bounces even up sometimes.
The Bruins came hard, as they always do. They had chances that didn’t go. But Bridgeport contained them, mostly. When they didn’t, it worked out somehow, whether it was posts, shots wide or Gibson magic.
“We talked before the game, I don’t know if this is specific to defense, but it’s just winning your battles,” Ben Holmstrom said. That the Bruins are a hard-working team, “but that’s good for us. We play hard, too.”
Sebastian Aho got a shot through — said he thought Dan Vladar thought either Scott Eansor or Casey Bailey was going to tip it, but neither did — and that turned out to be enough.
“Providence is a dynamic hockey team,” Thompson said. “They work very, very hard. That’s why they’re one of the top teams in the league, in our division. They’re physical. They play a hard game. We matched their work ethic. It’s a step in the right direction.”
Gibson said he doesn’t like to think much about shutouts. (We waste our time on that, like pointing out that he had two in a week… two years ago next week. Bridgeport’s last three shutouts now are against Providence, and all three were 1-0 with the goal scored by a defenseman… and the previous two were Jaro Halak’s and Ryan Pulock’s.)
“For me, it’s getting the win,” Gibson said. “Right now, we need wins.”
……
Been planning on doing something semi-deep on Aho’s coming over at some point, but figured I’d ask the light version of the questions tonight. “It’s been good. I didn’t think it was going to be this easy to adapt to playing on the small rink,” Aho said. “I’ve been getting a lot of help from the coaches and the players.” And off-ice? “It’s pretty different, but it’s nice to get some change,” he said. “I’ve been living in the same city the past seven years in Sweden. It’s nice to get some perspective on things.”
Does a shutout break up the Bridgeport goaltending rotation? Thompson said he’d think about tomorrow’s goalie on the ride home.
Tanner Fritz is still day-to-day.
They honored linesman Brian MacDonald in the first period, saying it was his last AHL game.
The ol’ double minor for attempted butt-ending (2F02). Spearing and head-butting must be stirring somewhere.
Forgot to note the other night that onetime Sound Tigers forward Justin Taylor played his 450th ECHL game. Taylor has never been back to the AHL after those 15 games with Bridgeport. Coincidentally it was here six years ago that he was originally credited with what would’ve been his only AHL point, a secondary assist. They changed it later. The goal was the first in the AHL for some kid named Brett Gallant.
Prescout. Just Springfield’s second win. They honored Willie O’Ree before the game. Florida sent Denis Malgin down.
Two more goals for Ryan Haggerty in a wild one in Allentown, putting him on pace for (didn’t play seven, so 69 times two is) a lot.
Eamon McAdam made 33 saves in a win in Worcester. Matt Gaudreau had a couple of points, including his first pro goal. No Loic Leduc for the Royals; hope he’s OK. Goal for Milford’s Mark Naclerio, though.
Sacred Heart-Canisius, Saturday at 2 at the Arena.
Vowels are tricky. For one thing, “Share-ey” doesn’t rhyme with “cherry.” (Unless it does. But that’s weird.) Refer back to the whole Pulock thing from last year. Which, now everyone’s saying something different from what he told me then. (They’re schwa-ing up that ‘o’, like PULL-uck. He told me PULL-lock.) Vowels are tricky. My name’s easy, though, obviously. Son of a gun, we’re gonna have big fun.
All-star tickets go on sale tomorrow in Utica. (Also online, if you don’t feel like driving.)
Sure Bob Klapisch will land somewhere great.
Belated best wishes to David Backes. Good thoughts for Kerry Fraser and all his family.
And RIP, Ray Robinson.