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AHL Springfield Thunderbirds

Comrie's Two Goals Topple T-Birds

March 9, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds News Release


UTICA, N.Y. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (27-28-4-1) once again erased two different deficits on the road against the Utica Comets (30-20-6-4), but succumbed to an overtime winner as the Comets snapped a six-game losing streak in a 3-2 triumph at the Adirondack Bank Center.

The home-standing Comets channeled the energy of their sold out home ice to register eight shots in the game's opening eight minutes, but Harri Sateri remained sturdy in the Springfield net to allow his team the chance to get back into a rhythm.

While Springfield did get six consecutive shot attempts of their own, they could not crack 22-year-old Thatcher Demko, who stopped all 11 shots in the first in the Utica net.

At the other end, the struggling Utica power play broke its 0-for-29 skid when Cam Darcy banked a puck off of Sateri from the goal line in the left corner to break the scoreless tie to make it 1-0 Comets at 14:12 of the opening frame.

The Thunderbirds had a great chance to tie the score in the early stages of the second, with Anthony Greco in all alone on a breakway, but Demko was one better with a desperation save on the glove side. Undeterred, Greco would get his payback at the 8:02 mark of the period, moving into the slot and accepting a pass from Chase Balisy behind the net to jab it through Demko's legs to tie the score, 1-1.

After breaking their power play drought in the first, the Comets made it two power play goals at the 10:42 mark of the middle period, as Adam Comrie parked himself to the side of Sateri's net and shuffled a backhand rebound over the Springfield netminder to make it a 2-1 score.

That score carried into the third period, where a tight-checking frame made its way into the final eight minutes with nothing changed on the scoreboard. That was, until Ludwig Bystrom took a feed from Jayce Hawryluk right along the edge of the blue line at the left point. With traffic in front, Bystrom flipped a wrister that eluded Demko and tickled the net with 7:11 to play, ensuring Springfield a standings point in an eighth consecutive.

The second point on this night would go the way of the Comets, as Comrie moved up on a rebound from a Patrick Wiercioch offering to beat Sateri over the glove to pick up the winner at 3:00 of overtime. Springfield has now fallen in three of its last four overtime periods, but they are now 5-0-3-0 over their last eight games during their point streak.

The Thunderbirds and Comets will turn right around and head to Springfield for a 7:05 p.m. Saturday matchup in the 2nd Annual Pink in the Rink Night, presented by Baystate Health to benefit the Rays of Hope Foundation. The two squads will face off on a pink ice surface after a special pregame ceremony honoring breast cancer survivors and their families.

Springfield's specialty jerseys for the evening will be auctioned post-game, with the proceeds generated going toward the Rays of Hope Foundation. Springfield then finishes up the busy three-game weekend with a trip to Bridgeport on Sunday in a battle with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

 

Springfield Thunderbirds fans are encouraged to visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com to learn more about 2018-19 Thunderbirds Season Ticket Memberships. Packages include a wide range of benefits, including the lowest prices for the 2019 AHL All Star Classic presented by MGM Springfield. For more information or to order now, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2018


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