The Sound Tigers have never lost six games in a row in regulation time. Friday at Springfield will, in fact, be only their fifth opportunity to do it (or prevent it, I guess you’d say) after this one.
I’ve focused, perhaps, too much on what has gone wrong at the other end, the turnovers, the breakdowns, the disappearing penalty kill (Tyler Haskins: still out, no return date set, “upper body, day to day,” and the impression is it’s very-upper-body).
But this team has scored more than three goals in regulation only in that Albany game. Take out the shootout-win point early in the year, and they’ve scored 35 goals, which is only a tiny fraction more than two goals per game, which would be lowest in the league if not for a Manitoba team that has put the puck in the net during real action only 33 times in 19 games (and yet somehow has 18 points, with help from three shootout wins).
This team is about work-hard, go-to-the-net, wreak-havoc, which is well and good, but they have to get themselves (and the puck) there somehow. They talk about staying out of the box, and sure, that’d help.
There’s plenty of time. This division has the markings of a battle to the finish. They’re young. They’ve played a lot of games in a little time; only in 2002-03 and last year did they get to 17 games in only five weeks. Jonathan talked last night about a Dan Bylsma idea “that it takes 20 games for a team with a lot of new players to figure out how it’s going to win.” The Penguins have, maybe, come a little closer to that. Bridgeport has next weekend — at Springfield, at Glens Falls, Portland at home — to begin to figure it out.
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Last time losing five in a row: six games, Feb. 21-March 9, 2007, the last in a shootout. The time before that: Dec. 4-11, 2005, 10 days before everything turned around.
Mikko Koskinen said his surgery went well; he said he’s hoping to practice in about three months and perhaps be ready to play again in about four, which is a bit longer than 8-10 weeks but makes sense with the surgery. And Joel Rechlicz said he’s not even sure when he got his infection in his hand, which he assumes came from tooth-vs.-finger. It had to be drained. He’s got a little way to go.
Scott Gordon in the house.
Jack Capuano said he considered playing a defenseman up front but went with the seven defensemen instead. It wasn’t like Klementyev was everywhere in the third, but he played substantially more than he had in the first and second, when I think he got one shift apiece.
Jonathan has a neat story today looking back on the first home game in Wilkes-Barre, 10 years ago this week.
All right, Mad Men finale shortly.
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Is there any hope?? They can’t seem to control the puck, pass the puck or even shoot the puck. The play that led to Mauldin’s goal was probably the best executed play I have seen Bridgeport do in a while.
Comment by Jeff S — November 8th, 2009 @ 9:18 pm
Mike, How far out is Reich? I believe I saw him up in the suites and I didn’t see a cast.
Comment by Jon — November 8th, 2009 @ 9:28 pm
Michael-
Being out of state I don’t get to see the team that often so I was wondering what happened to Joensuu? What do you think, slump, injury, linemates, regression, all of the above?
Comment by Boss — November 8th, 2009 @ 10:00 pm
This team is young and has only grinders. It needs playmakers upfront.What good is having a bunch of 20 goal scorers if no one can get them the puck. The also look like they are skating in mud, always a step behind other teams.
The 2 Sarnia forwards look so lazy on most nights that they would not stand out in a beer league game.
The kids should watch Mauldin play. He plays the game the right way.
Bad teams have bad luck as u saw on Lowells third goal. Then again having a pothetic offense won’t win many games either.
Also I dont get the Major to A-Mac ,minor maybe but a major was a joke especially at the angle i was sitting.
Comment by Sneekypete — November 8th, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
That boarding call was bogus. The Devils player losses an edge and a-mac pushes him down and poof hes done…
Comment by Jon — November 8th, 2009 @ 11:47 pm
One thing I take away from watching Bridgeport play is that the Islanders were definitely expecting Moulson to be spending some time in Bridgeport. That’s not happening if he keeps up his play, but watching the scoring opportunities Moulson creates for Tavares makes it seem that the Sound Tigers lost an offensive weapon that could have spearheaded something on the offensive end. Plus nobody else seems to be in a position to step up, and it will be no help that the big club will probably succumb to the injury bug in the future.
Yep, just another typical year for a Sound Tiger fan.
Comment by paul — November 9th, 2009 @ 1:20 am
Problem one: lack of playmakers, Problem two: While on the rush, too many forwards crossing over blue line and pulling up instead of driving to the net (number 14 Bentovoliolio) even without a scoring chance trying to draw a penalty. Problem three: forwards not standing in front of the net creating havoc. Problem four: Shoot the #$%&ing puck!
At the very least, get the puck deep into the zone. Tell Capuano
“chip this”.
Comment by Section 106 — November 9th, 2009 @ 9:54 am
It makes sense why Toby was in Vegas last night. Obviously he is looking for a few fresh faces (there are a lot of goals and points being put up on the board in Utah). Time for an overhaul…should have happened last year but its always the same old story!!!!
Comment by Jordan — November 11th, 2009 @ 11:33 am