When even reinforcements like Dylan Reese got called up, some people figured it was over. Some people wondered if they’d win another game. They were at a skin-of-their-teeth pace to begin with.
Over the past 16 games, 11-4-1-0, maybe a little changed.
“It’s a great feeling, obviously,” Mark Wotton said. “You play all year to make the playoffs, to get a run for a chance at the Calder Cup. It’s a good feeling right now, but we want to finish the season strong. We’ve got a big game tomorrow. Hartford’s going to come out strong.”
He talked about the team effort, from the goaltending out through the defense and the forwards coming back. The young defensemen played an outstanding game, particularly considering Witt was out and Gleed missed about half the night (seemed to be OK).
They crashed the net for two goals. They held on through three third-period penalty kills. And for the first time since the first three years, they’re going back to the dance in back-to-back years.
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(1) Defensive-zone faceoff with about 30 seconds to go. Manchester has had its best players on for about a minute. Wotton has been out there, too. Capuano said he was thinking about a time out. Wotton said he didn’t need it. (2) With under 10 seconds left, the puck comes back-door to Loktionov. Who dives across to block the shot, even though the game is for all intents and purposes over, after what had to be a 30-minute night? Mark Wotton. (3) Question about the team: Long exposition. Question about the young defensemen: Positive response, team defense. Does playing 1,000 professional games in North America mean anything to you? (Five seconds of squirming) “It’s nice.” Draw your own conclusion.
They’ll honor him Sunday. It’s also team photo day, brought to you by the Connecticut Post. That’s right.
Touching moment in the first period, when the team introduced Zack Haskins, Tyler’s brother, back from a third tour in Iraq.
From real service to playoff math: There is no simple, slap-it-up-there way to sum up tomorrow’s playoff picture. The earliest we would know for sure would be about 5:30, were Bridgeport to win and Wilkes-Barre to lose in regulation; that would set up the Sound Tigers as A4, Lowell as E3 and WBS as E4. Anything else, and we’ll be waiting out Lowell’s 4 p.m. start to establish at least two pieces of the puzzle. The simplest piece: If Bridgeport wins, it is A4 and gets Worcester. Second-place Portland will play third-place Manchester.
What little we know: Game 1, Wednesday, away. The Bears begin Wednesday-Friday at Giant Center. Worcester advertises Game 1 on Wednesday but nothing beyond that. The River Rats say the same thing.
I’ve been saying all year I didn’t believe in Lowell. I kept expecting a downturn that would knock them out. Thought my reasoning was sound: based that on a decade for the organization without a playoff spot. The Devils hung on. Congrats to Ben Walter and Lowell.
Katie Strang reports that Sean Bergenheim probably won’t play tomorrow. Don’t know if that means another call-up. No tip-off here that I noticed.
Ray posted Micheal Haley’s first NHL fight. Heck of a tilt.
Had the list of scoreless ties ready to go. Again. Oh well.
Joe Callahan had “a setback” and didn’t return to the Sharks’ lineup last night. He didn’t play tonight, either.
Hershey captain Bryan Helmer played his 982nd AHL game tonight, a league record.
Utah lost Game 3 as Koskinen gave up three goals on 11 first-period shots. Mike Morrison finished up. They’re right back at it tomorrow.
Odessa fell in Game 1 on Friday, but Jean Bourbeau had a goal tonight as the Jacks tied the series. Game 3 is Wednesday.
And RIP, H. Edward Roberts and those aboard the plane that crashed in Russia, including Polish President Lech Kaczynski.