Not the prettiest game Bridgeport’s ever played. Turnovers. Some shaky moments. They won. On to the next.
“Guys competed. That’s first and foremost,” Brent Thompson said. “When guys compete that hard — obviously the structure, we need to clean some things up, puck management especially later in the game. And then discipline’s a factor.”
(He couldn’t have been thrilled with the officiating, but we’ll come back to that.)
“It was a hard-fought game. I thought Springfield played a great game,” Thompson said. “It was playoff intensity. They’re a fast team. They’re dangerous. I thought our guys played hard. They did what it took. We blocked some shots, played physical, obviously went to the net and guys got rewarded doing the little things, winning walls.”
Like Scott Eansor fighting off a check to set up Travis St. Denis for the goal that turned out to be the game-winner.
This is the first time they’ve scored three in back-to-back games since they did it in six a month ago. They got a couple of players their first goals since that run, too.
“Our team’s been really flowing offensively. We’ve been playing really well defensively, too,” said Kieffer Bellows, who got his first since Nov. 11.
“All the D have been sacrificing the body, and blocking shots. And the goaltending’s been fantastic.”
Jeremy Smith’s stats take a hit from Springfield’s two late PPGs, but he was phenomenal when Bridgeport needed him. Michael Dal Colle scored two more. St. Denis got his first since Nov. 10.
“We’re getting guys on the scoresheet all over. DC’s been hot lately, Otto and Fritzy and all those guys. That line’s been clicking,” Bellows said.
……..
Power plays were 5-1 Springfield. The first two were a long five-on-three. At the end of that two-man advantage, one of the referees said Bridgeport changed too late. He left Devon Toews and Parker Wotherspoon on the ice, and forced one player to come back on: Kyle Burroughs. Yep, three defensemen for a defensive-zone draw. Burroughs took it. I’m almost positive that happened to Bridgeport before, but top of my head, can’t remember it. Wild.
Stephen Gionta’s empty-netter from his own zone was Bridgeport’s first short-handed goal of the season. The last was Jeff Kubiak’s first AHL goal in the game that eliminated the Sound Tigers from playoff contention last year.
Dal Colle’s former linemate drew some nice words from his coach for his play in a shootout win tonight. Josh Ho-Sang’s replacement, Tanner Fritz, left the game in the third period, right around the 4-1 goal; on his last shift, he looked uncomfortable a couple of times but clearly flinched after a hit from Ian McCoshen. Thompson said he’d yet to get word on him.
Prescout. Three goals for Ryan Haggerty.
Elliotte Friedman says Tom Sestito comes back with the Marlies.
After getting shut out last night, Worcester lost to Maine in a shootout. It was ugly sweater night in Worcester.
And wrote something this week on Charlie Capalbo, Fairfield goalie, fighting cancer yet again. The Sound Tigers plan a night for him Feb. 23; link in the story to buy tickets to help benefit the family.
More tomorrow.