The all-around game has taken some big steps, and Ross Johnston got the call to the Islanders this morning. “He’s a big, physical presence,” Brent Thompson said, “he plays heavy on the boards, heavy at the net. He’s tough as nails. It’s an opportunity for him to see if he can do it in the NHL, to bring some kind of edge, bite.”
All three goalies were on. Christopher Gibson said he’s feeling OK. Thompson thought he looked good and figures he’ll play as long as everything checks out. Thompson said he’s gotten good feedback on Eamon McAdam from Chris Terreri and Jamie Russell. “Nothing wrong with him being here and learning. We’ll go one day at a time with him,” Thompson said.
Steve Bernier, who’d been out ill, was back on. Stephen Gionta skated some in red; still week-to-week, Thompson said. Eansor – St. Denis – Ho-Sang remained together; everything else tweaked around returns and departures.
ZOOPERSTARS and a Devon Toews bobblehead tomorrow. Providence is home to Wilkes-Barre tonight; the B’s expect Jeremy Lauzon back, Mark Divver reported yesterday.
Missed it a couple of days ago, but Tomas Marcinko is again on Slovakia’s Olympic team.
Been a busy couple of transactions days in Hartford. With Kevin Shattenkirk out awhile, among other issues, the Rangers called up a couple of guys and assigned first-rounder Lias Andersson to the Wolf Pack from Sweden. Hartford also brought back Chris Langkow on another PTO. Worcester starts a long homestand tonight.