Phantoms score comeback victory against the Thunderbirds
Story By: Matthew Wiernasz
Photo Courtesy of the Springfield Thunderbirds
SPRINGFIELD, MA- The Lehigh Valley Phantoms erased a 2-0 deficit to comeback and scored five unanswered goals to defeat the Springfield Thunderbirds 5-2 last night at the MassMutual Center.
” I didn’t like the start obviously. We made a couple of mistakes but I like that we stayed with it. We kept pushing. We kept pushing in the second. Kept pushing in the third. Came out with a big win. That’s a good team on the other side. We showed them a lot of respect by showing up in the last 40 minutes.” Phantoms Head Coach Ian Lappiere Said
” It’s a pretty good team win. Not the start we wanted. We finished with a strong second and third period. All positive and we gotta a game tomorrow. Let’s focus on that.” Phantoms forward Alexis Gendron Said
Thunderbirds forward Adam Gaudette would be getting plenty of scoring opportunities early. Gaudette would try a one-timer but Phantoms goaltender Cal Petersen made the save. Gaudette would get his first goal of the game when he fired the wrist shot with 6:58 remaining in the first period to make it 1-0.
Gaudette got his second goal of the period on the power play when he took the shot that went through Petersen to make it 2-0 with 7:00 left in the first period.
Olle Lycksell would cut into the lead with 3:12 remaining in the first period as he scored over the glove of Thunderbirds goaltender Malcolm Subban to make it 2-1.
The Phantoms would then score three more goals in the second period. Phantoms defenseman Helge Gran took the slap shot and Garrett Wilson was able to tip it in with 9:00 to tie the game at 2-2.
The Phantoms would then get their first lead of the night as Lycksell scored to make it 3-2 with 5:18 remaining in the second period.
Alexis Gendron would extend the lead 10 seconds later as he jammed in the rebound to make it 4-2. Gendron’s father Martin used to play in the AHL where he played for the Portland Pirates, Springfield Falcons, and the Fredericton Canadiens. Gendron is only 19 years old
” I played against his dad quite a bit in juniors which is weird for me to coach those guys. He’s been great. He scores goals. He’s known to do that. He did that in juniors. I like his 200 feet game. That’s one thing he needs to be better at. He wants to learn. He wants to be a pro. He shows a lot of maturity for his age. He wants to be better and I love that.” Lappiere Said
Gendron has learned a lot from his father and the guidance he has given him.
” Just to be positive. Just shoot, skate, and work hard and all the good things will happen.” Gendron Said
The Phantoms outshot the Thunderbirds 21-6 during the second period.
Lycksell would complete the hat trick with 2:12 remaining in regulation as he scored a one-timer to make it 5-2.
The Thunderbirds will continue their 3-in-3 weekend tonight when they take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for a 6:05 p.m. puck drop. The T-Birds will complete their first 3-in-3 of the season when they travel to the PPL Center tomorrow afternoon in Allentown to take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The puck drop is at 3:05 p.m.
The Phantoms will take on the Hartford Wolf Pack tonight at the XL Center for the drop of the puck at 7:00 p.m.
The next home game for the Thunderbirds will be next Saturday, October 28 when the Providence Bruins come to the MassMutal Center. Game Time is at 7:05 p.m.