T-Birds four goal third periods help them win against I-91 rival

Story By: Matthew Wiernasz

Photo Courtesy of the Hartford Wolf Pack

HARTFORD, CT- The Springfield Thunderbirds came out with a four-goal third period and erased a 2-0 lead from the Hartford Wolf Pack as they defeated their I-91 rival 4-2 at the XL Center.

Anton Blidh got the Wolf Pack on the board with the forehand shot that beat T-Birds goaltender Vadim Zherenko to make it 1-0 4:32 into the opening period. Will Cuylle extended the lead for the Wolf Pack close to a minute and a half later. Ty Eberson fired the shot as it went off a T-Birds defenseman and right to Cuylle as he took his shot from point-blank range to make it 2-0.

There was no scoring in the second period.

The T-Birds came out with four goals in the third period. Mikhail Abramov made the backhand pass to Will Bitten and Bitten was able to put the puck past Wolf Pack goaltender Dylan Garand with 13:39 remaining in regulation to make it 2-1.

Bitten would tie the game five minutes later. T-Birds forward Hugh McGing would turn over the puck and make the pass to Bitten. Bitten would setup Garand and deked him out to tie the game at 2-2.

The T-Birds would get their first lead of the game with a power play late in the third period with 5:21 remaining in regulation as Martin Frk used his signature slap shot and fired it past Garand to make it 3-2.

Bitten would score an empty-net goal to complete the hat-trick for the Thunderbirds with 1:13 remaining in regulation to make it 4-2