Sundays are lazy for me, and I half expect to wake up to find Isles roster news on my digital device of choice. [UPDATE: Yep, David Ullstrom has been recalled from Bridgeport.]
While the team that showed up -- I use that term loosely -- on home ice last night doesn't deserve the momentary diversion from ridicule that a spotlight on prospects provides, we nonetheless owe our beloved readers their Sunday morning ritual. With Mark's laptop on strike, I humbly fill in.
The Sound Tigers play today vs. Adirondack at 3 p.m., and Brent Thompson wasn't yet sure who he'd play in goal since Anders Nilsson was up with the Islanders and even saw two periods of action last night. Last night's emergency PTO backup, Steve Valiquette, was surprised to say the least by the dinner call.
Friday, Nov. 18: Connecticut 3, Sound Tigers 2 (OT)
The final score flattered, as the Whale actually outshot their rivals by wait...that can't be right...45-17? David Ullstrom had two goals -- the only two goals -- and Kevin Poulin stood on his head. Fornabaio's blog had Brent Thompson describing it in a very Islanders vs. Bruins kind of way: "We got outplayed and outworked in every aspect of the game."
It's statements like those that make me wonder what an AHL callup will do for the Isles. Doesn't keep me from wishing though.
Saturday, Nov. 19: Springfield 4, Sound Tigers 1
Bridgeport was defeated by Manny Legace. Full stop. He only had to make 23 saves. [Fornabaio write-up here] The lone BPT goal, by Tim Wallace, was started by a Matt Donovan defensive play and feed up to Tyler McNeely. Kevin Poulin made 23 saves. Justin DiBenedetto is out hurt, and Rhett Rakhshani was taken off IR and assigned to the AHL, so expect him soon.
And if you only pay attention to Bridgeport through our weekly reports, they started last week (or finished last weekend) with a big 4-3 win over Hershey Sunday, Nov. 13. That was the game where Nino Niederreiter scored on the penalty shot. Anders Nilsson stopped 34 of 37.
Don't forget you can find Bridgeport Sound Tigers game highlights here.
Natural Born Kirills
Kirill Petrov still leads Kazan with 10-6-16 in 22 games.
Kirill Kabanov is up to 7-9-16 in 11 games for Shawinigan of the QMJHL. He was scoreless Saturday in their loss to Baie-Comeau, which is just fun to say: Baie-Comeau. Do you think they do the COZO?
Finnish Loans & Trust
Mikko Koskinen is back in action with KalPa, giving up just one goal in his first start.
Poulin talked about missing Koskinen, but appreciating getting his own net in practice. Of course then Evgeni Nabokov got hurt, Al Montoya stayed hurt, and Nilsson left him alone with some guy who played with the Sound Tigers when Poulin was 10.
CHL
Ryan Strome is obviously a bust: He actually went scoreless in a game. Thirteen-game point streak over. No matter, he resumed with two goals in a 5-0 shutout of Kingston.
John Persson was held scoreless but was +2 in a shootout loss to Lethbridge.
Andrey Pedan played a game for Russia in the [sandwich chain] Series and played one game this weekend for Guelph, going pointless, even, and picking up a minor penalty. Prospect Park notes this is the ninth straight, and 14th of 15 games in which Pedan has gone to the box.
Hit the Books*: NCAA
*Basketweaving 101 is popular
Anders Lee did not score in Notre Dame's 3-2 OT win over Boston College, but he had seven shots. Robbie Russo was described as solid on the blueline by Prospect Park. Lee's 17 points are tied for 11th in the country, and his 12 goals are tied for 3rd.
Corey Trivino's Boston U. picked up a couple of crucial wins to climb back into the picture, with Trivino picking up a goal in each game -- one went off his skate -- this weekend.
Brock Nelson scored twice for North Dakota in 90 seconds in a win at Bemidji State.
Jason Clark was held scoreless as Wisconsin was swept at Colorado College.
Scott Mayfield's Denver U. tied Omaha Friday, then slaughtered them Saturday. Mayfield was +1. One detail from last week: Mayfield was tossed for what was deemed a high hit when he leveled Jayden Schwartz at the blueline.
Cody Rosen's Clarkson shut out Dartmouth ... but Rosen did not play.