The Springfield Falcons website posted another Bruce Landon webisode. It’s a quicky this week, only about 15 minutes, but as usual well worth watching.
If you’re too busy though, Bruce mentions that these are “good times and bad times”. Good times, because some of these otherwise unknown players, are able to “let the coaches know they can play at this level.”
Bad times? Both goaltenders who played in Wednesday night’s game against Connecticut have been released. (Paul Dainton and Allen York will be the Falcons netminders for the time being.)
The Falcons return to pre-season action tonight in a “neutral site” game in Marlborough, MA when they take on the Providence Bruins.
Landon expects the Falcons to field a similar lineup to the one that dropped a 4-2 decision to the Whale on Wednesday. However, for Saturday night’s return match in Springfield, he expects more of the “regulars” in the lineup.
Bruce and Damon Markiewicz also touch on the “neutral site” games. (Without mentioning it in the webisode, there happens to be a “neutral site” game just a few minutes away from the MassMutual Center tonight. The Albany Devils play the Portland Pirates at 7PM at the Olympia in West Springfield)
Bruce says that the next round of cuts by the Blue Jackets should be on Saturday. The Jackets NHL roster, by rule, must be down to 23 players by October 5th.
Landon also mentions that starting as soon as this Tuesday, he will have a weekly blog on MassLive. I’ll pass along the URL as soon as possible.
In other AHL news, former Falcon Tom Sestito was suspended for the balance of the pre-season and just two regular season games for his blindside hit on Andre Deveaux in Philly on Monday. Apparently, this was one of those instances where not “having a prior” was looked at with a degree of leniency. The AHL will be enforcing the suspension as handed down by Brendan Shanahan.
Finally this morning, Happy Birthday to my son Joshua. He turns 7 today and is already a sniper. The lad goes top cheese on the old man with alarming regularity. His birthday wish? The neutral site game at the Olympia.