Back from break, darks at home: All is rightish with the world, with the potential exception of the absence of Steve Bernier, who’ll sit out for what’s being termed maintenance. He’s signing autographs, so that’s a decent sign.
That gets noted thug Stephen Gionta back into the lineup in his official return from suspension. Ryan Bourque also returns for Ben Holmstrom, and Alan notes that this is Bourque’s 500th pro game: 499 in the AHL plus his one for the Rangers.
The team-record home streak is on the line, 11-0-2-1 in the past 14. Last time it’s on the line until Jan. 12.
Hartford, without the suspended Peter Holland, called a couple of guys up from Portland this afternoon, though one of them appears to be the extra forward tonight. Unrelatedly, I’ll be on with Bob Crawford during the second intermission.
BRIDGEPORT
F: Dal Colle-Koivula-C.Bourque
Eansor-Fritz-Sislo
Bellows-Jones-R.Bourque (A)
St. Denis-Kubiak-Gionta
D: Wotherspoon-Burroughs (C)
Vande Sompel-Aho
Helgeson (A)-Casto
(Rathgeb-scratch)
G: Smith
Gibson
HARTFORD
F: Schneider (C)-Fogarty (A)-Lettieri
Beleskey-Fontaine-Meskanen
Leedahl-Wallin-Butler
Melanson-O’Donnell-St. Amant
(Gropp-scratch)
D: O’Gara (A)-Bigras
Hajek-Gilmour
Day-Pedrie
G: Tokarski
Mazanec
R: MacDougall, Gouin. L: B.Lyons, Pincus.
Bridgeport scratches (believed healthy unless noted): apparently Rathgeb, Bernier (veteran/maintenance), Hitchcock, B.Holmstrom (veteran).