Let’s get the math out of the way. This shootout loss means Bridgeport can finish with no better than 79 points, which ties the lowest a Bridgeport team has ever earned (2004-05, 2006-07). They can get no better than 35 wins, so on the tiebreaker, this game clinched the worst record in Bridgeport history.
It really wasn’t that appropriate a game to bring about such math, though. Maybe not the most excitement, but an effective, draw-penalties, get-pucks-deep kind of night for much of the game. The power play didn’t score but kept momentum up. The penalty kill was good, 1-for-2 against the five-on-three. Joel Martin was solid, except for the puck that squeaked through him, and there was Justin Taylor to scramble in and keep it from crossing the line.
“We spent a lot of time in the offensive zone. We were playing below the goal line,” Pat Bingham said. “We put pucks on net, and we were drawing penalties because of the time we spent. The power play did a good job. We didn’t score on the first four or five, but we were getting in on the power-play breakout, which isn’t always as easy as you’d think.”
They had some scoring chances, and Bingham thought there were a few quick whistles. The penalties, and the shots, evened themselves out in the third, but they got a point out of it. And from here on out, those are all just part of history.
….
Afterward, Matt Schepke was released and Steve Tarasuk was sent back to Kalamazoo. Bingham said he didn’t have details on Aaron Ness’ arrival, but Ness’ agent tweeted that he will play Friday, so I guess he’ll be here.
An all-star press box: Dave Baseggio and Kevin Maxwell here scouting. That’s a heck of a lot of Bridgeport Sound Tigers history in one place. See if we can’t get some of them back Sunday, when Steve Stirling will be here.
Fairfield Prep vs. St. Joseph for the state hockey title. Wow. (And since it’s St. Joseph’s Day, I urge some pastry shop somewhere to seize the opportunity and offer free zeppoli if the Cadets sweep that and the basketball final. And of course provide a free zeppole to the guy who came up with the idea, either way.)
And RIP, Nate Dogg and Marty Marion.
Edit: Typo fixed in Bingham quote.
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