Wondering how new arrival Tanner Fritz, sent down this morning from the New York Islanders, fits into these lines?
We still are too, and not just because the tropical air had it about as foggy as we’ve seen the Arena at Harbor Yard in a long time. We’re presuming the fourth line as it skated was Ryan Bourque-Scott Eansor-Ben Holmstrom, but it could’ve been someone else**. The other three regular lines were roughly as they’ve been; Chris Bourque was back at it.
But, yeah, Fritz didn’t appear to be in town yet; they have one more practice tomorrow before the home opener. He could step back in at center here, could play the wing as he has done up there, gives them one more solid forward (and not a veteran forward) in a deep group — it’d be 16 deep, as it stands right now, with Fritz. “Right from our fifth, if you want to call them the fifth, line, the guys that aren’t playing, they would play on most American League hockey teams,” Brent Thompson said. “I like our group, a quality, character group. The leadership’s outstanding, and Fritz just adds another piece to that. It does make it a good challenge, but at the end of the day, we’ll do what’s best for the team.”
Mike Cornell is captain of the Railers; he was interim captain last year while Chris Langkow was out late in the season. Josh Holmstrom will wear an ‘A’.
Prescout. First win for the Amerks in three tries.
The AHL will put select games free on Facebook Watch, including at least one Bridgeport game.
Referee Keith Kaval works his last AHL game Saturday.
And RIP, Tex Winter.
*-Sorry. I’m old.
**-I’d have gone Kolnik-Krog-Hunter but for the handedness.