Joke in the gamer — well, ha-ha-only-serious — that the Bruins’ eight first-period shots felt generous. I didn’t have Bridgeport blocking a ton of shots, first of all, but I had attempts as something like 23-7.
Even from up here in Cranston, that felt like a pretty good period for the Sound Tigers. The couple of guys I talked to seemed to agree. And they trailed 2-0 by the end of it.
It’s one game, and its magnitude feels stronger because of that three-way tie to start the evening. But it’s one game that puts Bridgeport two points out of playoff position with 14 games to play. So, you know, game on.
……
First time Bridgeport has been shut out since Thanksgiving Saturday, Nov. 26 at Wilkes-Barre (Tristan Jarry, 1-0); only the second time all year (Reto Berra, Oct. 30, 2-0 including an empty-netter), and the first time without Stephon Williams in net for Bridgeport.
The line combinations got a little bit all over the place by the third. They’d swapped Josh Winquist for Kellen Jones late in the second, and by late in the game, it was Winquist-Kearns-Jones, Markison-Schempp-Harris and Johnston-Nowick-Ben Holmstrom. The Dal Colle-Rowe-Fritz line was the only one to stick together all night; those three guys combined for eight shots. (I struggled with an “unsung hero” for our nightly recap box and just went with those three guys. Take away Harris’ penalty, and it might’ve been him; drew a penalty, used his size well at times, particularly in the first period. That penalty he took on the power play in the offensive zone was a big one, though.)
Four-point night for Christian Djoos, including the game-winner, in Hershey’s win over Hartford after Nicklas Jensen forced it to overtime late. Wilkes-Barre came back to beat Lehigh Valley and extend its division lead to five points. Bridgeport is 10 out of first now.
Mark Divver notes a Tommy Cross milestone.
Prescout. Andrey Pedan has been scratched quite a bit lately. (On the other side, 16 goals for Mike Halmo.) Pascal Pelletier, by the way, scored a goal in that St. Patrick’s Day 2006 game we linked in the pregame blog to put the Bruins ahead 2-0. That was his second pro season and first in the AHL. What’s he do tonight? Scores a goal to put Utica up 2-0. His Comets got it done, though.
Milwaukee signed New Hampshire’s Tyler Kelleher to an AHL contract for this year and next. Saw him play as a freshman for Longmeadow (Mass.) High in 2010. Which I guess just is one more notch in the “I’m old” belt.
And RIP, Norb Sander.
More tomorrow after the Divisions II and III high school finals. Hey, Ridgefield vs. Northwest Catholic on Monday for the Division I title. First D-I final for both. Should be fun.