Bodie scores big goal, goes bare-knuckles with Neill

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This article was published 27/09/2011 (5118 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Portage native Troy Bodie needed a pick-me-up on Monday night and he got it with a goal and a fistic triumph as he makes a bid to stick with the Jets.

Bodie took a double minor for roughing on Saturday night in Nashville and the Predators scored two quick goals en route to a win. Bodie’s job is to protect his teammates but not put them down a man due to penalties. It’s a fine line.

“Every game is big and they’re only going to get bigger from here on out,” said the 6-foot-4, 219-pound veteran of 107 NHL games. “I had a fight and a goal and a good showing. Mixing it up is what I do. I have to play gritty and get in there and take the body when it’s there. I have to drop the mitts when I need to and play solid defensively.”

Bodie fought Ottawa agitator Chris Neil late in the second period.

“He just kind of blindsided me and knocked me down. I said, ‘If you want to fight, let’s fight.’ The ref said, ‘We’ll get you up if you want to fight and let you go.’ I said, ‘Let’s go then.’ And then we fought,” said Bodie.

Postma pushing

Defenceman Paul Postma is getting a very close look from management and Monday night he was excellent.

“Teams are playing more guys and Ottawa played a pretty good lineup. This was a good-paced game and close to what the regular season is going to be like,” said Postma. “I’m gunning to make this roster, but they have six returning defenceman and it’s going to be tough to crack.”

Postma played most of the last two seasons with the Chicago Wolves and has one NHL game under his belt.

“It’s nice to see the coaches have confidence in me to get me on the ice in all situations,” he said. “The power play is my bread and butter but you have to show you can play all facets.”

Winters in Winnipeg

Former Moose goalie Alex Auld played the first two periods of Monday’s game for the Senators. Prior to the game Auld spoke fondly of his four winters in Manitoba.

“You could feel the passion there then,” he said. “It was such a learning experience for me. Probably the most fun I had there was in the lockout season (in 2004-05). We had a good group of guys and nobody was worried about being called up.

“I closed one building there (Winnipeg Arena) and opened up a new one (MTS Centre). The one thing I’ll always remember is some nights when we weren’t going so well and they’d start to ‘Go Jets Go.’ That could be frustrating.”

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @garylawless