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AHL Springfield Thunderbirds

Crunch Rally to Top T-Birds

April 13, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds News Release


Springfield Thunderbirds test the Syracuse Crunch defense
Springfield Thunderbirds test the Syracuse Crunch defense
(Springfield Thunderbirds)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (37-23-6-2) took a two-goal lead, but the visiting Syracuse Crunch (35-24-7-2) came back to walk out with a 4-2 victory on Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center.

Seeking payback from Friday's loss in Syracuse, the Thunderbirds got the scoresheet first with a pair of rookies combining on a beautiful rush into the offensive zone. Keean Washkurak sped into the offensive zone, cut to the left-wing side, and was able to spot a cutting Mathias Laferriere in the blue paint. Goaltender Max Lagace could not get post-to-post in time, and Laferriere's second goal of his rookie season made it 1-0 at 14:55.

Power plays were sparse in the opening 20 minutes, with both teams successfully killing off one opposition advantage in the first period. Charlie Lindgren, looking to improve to 6-0 after losses this season, stopped all 10 shots that came his way in the frame.

Dakota Joshua put the T-Birds ahead by a pair with a highlight-reel tally at 8:09 of the second to make it 2-0. Brady Lyle spotted Joshua parked to the glove side of Lagace's net. The big centerman fielded the pass and neatly slipped it between his legs before elevating the puck over Lagace's arm to pick up his 7th goal of the season.

As it was last weekend, though, the T-Birds' opposition was able to get a quick response, as only 1:09 elapsed before Gemel Smith was able to sneak a backhander from behind the net inside the far-post on a wrap-around through Lindgren. That gave Syracuse a jolt and cut the Springfield lead to 2-1.

The Thunderbirds had three glorious chances to restore the two-goal lead, but Lagace made a combination of flashy saves - first on a 2-on-1 against Luke Witkowski from the left circle, then on a pair of dangerous chances off the rush from James Neal.

Those stops kept the momentum on the visitors' side, and operating on a 6-on-5 with a delayed Springfield penalty, Riley Nash finished off a give-and-go play at the net front from Cole Koepke to deadlock the score, 2-2, at 15:17.

Only 100 more seconds would come off the clock before Syracuse captain Gabriel Dumont added his second point of the period with yet another jam play at Lindgren's far post to make it 3-2 at 16:57.

Syracuse locked down the neutral zone and defensive zone in the final period, keeping Springfield to just six attempts at the net in the final period. Dumont's second goal of the night and 27th of the season into an empty net rounded out the scoring with just 35 seconds remaining.

Springfield will get a crack at the first place Charlotte Checkers in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday at the Thunderdome. The puck will drop at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and 6:05 p.m. on Saturday.

Thunderbirds' playoff ticket information will be made available in the coming days. Follow @ThunderbirdsAHL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more details to come, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.

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Springfield Thunderbirds test the Syracuse Crunch defense
Springfield Thunderbirds test the Syracuse Crunch defense
   



American Hockey League Stories from April 13, 2022


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