The number of scratches dwindled this morning, at least temporarily, when Bridgeport sent Kellen Jones and Matt Gaudreau to Worcester. They’ll play in Manchester tonight and, with the Railers off tomorrow, may very well return promptly.
Meanwhile, Josh Holmstrom gets in for Gaudreau tonight. A couple of lines look just like they finished last night, while the other two are somewhat blenderized, if not unrecognizably. And Pat Cullity draws back in for Andre Benoit in the back; at first glance, Kane Lafranchise stays on the right, which is different from how he and Cullity ran when they were paired in the past. Eamon McAdam in net.
On the other side is the team they’re chasing with 23 games to go, so, you know, kind of a big one. The Checkers rushed all 13 forwards. Alex Nedeljkovic had one of the the longer chat I’ve seen a starting goalie have with an opponent at the red line, giving ex-juniors teammate Josh Ho-Sang a few pats on the back. Neat.
Meanwhile, the Big Club traded for Brandon Davidson, adding a defenseman and getting back to 23 active.
BRIDGEPORT
F: Bourque-Stevens-Bernier (A)
Dal Colle – St. Denis – Ho-Sang
C.Jones-Gionta-Bailey
Eansor-B.Holmstrom (C)-J.Holmstrom
(Schempp-scratch)
D: Cullity-Lafranchise
Wotherspoon-Burroughs
Helgeson (A)-Cornell
G: McAdam
Gudlevskis
CHARLOTTE
F: Zykov-Kruger-Tolchinsky
Saarela-Brown (C)-Poturalski
Foegele-Bishop-Schilkey
Kuokkanen-Roy-(Stortini-scratch)/Gauthier
D: Carrick (A)-Didier
Samuelsson (A)-McKeown
Robertson-Kichton
G: Nedeljkovic
Smith
R: Gill, Waterstradt. L: K.Briganti, Hejna.
Bridgeport scratches (believed healthy unless noted): Benoit, Toews (shoulder), Vande Sompel (upper), apparently Schempp.