T-Birds Split Home-and-Home with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Story By: Matthew Wiernasz

Photo Courtesy of the Springfield Thunderbirds

SPRINGFIELD, MA- The Springfield Thunderbirds split a home-and-home weekend series with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.  The T-Birds suffered a heartbreaking loss when the Pens were able to erase a 2-0 lead.

The first period featured no score.

Nathan Walker was able to get the T-Birds on the board as Thunderbirds captain Matthew Peca was able to make the pass and Walker was able to beat Penguins goaltender Mangus Hellberg’s right pad side to make it 1-0

After receiving three power-play chances, the Thunderbirds would convert on their fourth power-play opportunity. Thunderbirds defenseman Dylan Coghlan would fire the shot after receiving the pass from Nathan Walker. Coghlan’s one-timer would deflect off of forward Ryan Suzuki to make it 2-0 with 11:00 remaining in the second period.

The Penguins would start to rally back in the third period. Rem Pitlick would get a quick shot past T-Birds goaltender Malcolm Subban with 11:17 remaining in regulation to cut the lead down to 2-1.

Matt Flippe was able to tip in a shot from Xavier Ouellet with 5:50 remaining in regulation to tie the game for the Penguins at 2-2.

The game would head into overtime.

Jack Rathbone put an end to the game as he skated on the right side of the ice taking a snap shot and beating Subban to give the Penguins the 3-2 win.

The Thunderbirds and the Penguins would face off against each other to conclude the home-and-home series.

For the second game in a row after the first period, it was scoreless. Sam Houde would get the Penguins on the board 1:14 into the second period as he tipped in a shot from Peter Abbandonato to make it 1-0.

Thunderbirds forward Zachary Bolduc would tie the game with 12:11 remaining in the second period as he fired a one-timer with assists from Calle Rosen and Hugh McGing to even the score at 1-1.

Mathias Laferriere would get around a Penguins defender and fire the shot. Penguins goaltender Joel Blomquist made the initial save and Drew Callin was able to tip the puck in to make it 2-1 for the Thunderbirds with 15:29 remaining in regulation.

The Thunderbirds would enjoy the lead for 65 seconds as Valtteri Puustinen was able to put in a rebound for the Penguins to even the score at 2-2.

T-Birds captain Matthew Peca was able to retake the lead for his team as he fired the shot with 3:22 remaining to make it 3-2.

Peter Abbandonto would accept the pass from Will Butcher and Abbandonato would sneak in the puck past T-Birds goaltender Vadim Zherenko with 1:39 remaining in regulation to even the score at 3-3.

Thunderbirds defenseman Matt Kessel would be able to score the game-winning goal in overtime and the Thunderbirds were able to win the game 4-3.