Peterson Plays OT Hero as T-Birds Outlast Isles

Sports stats



AHL Springfield Thunderbirds

Peterson Plays OT Hero as T-Birds Outlast Isles

December 6, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds News Release


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (11-9-1-0) battled and saw their way to a 5-4 overtime win over the Bridgeport Islanders (5-13-2-2) on Friday night inside the MassMutual Center.

The Thunderbirds continued their recent trend of opening goal supremacy on a power play at 9:26 of the first. After generating little in the way of chances, Tyler Tucker simplified matters with a wrist shot that found the inside of the post behind Bridgeport goalie Jakub Skarek, establishing the 1-0 Springfield lead on Tucker's first career power-play goal.

Springfield had the 14-5 shot advantage in the opening period. Still, goaltender Colten Ellis had to be firm with a pair of breakaway denials on both Liam Foudy and William Dufour in the first.

The middle frame devolved into a chaotic 20-minute frenzy of offense. With Bridgeport on a power play, T-Birds captain Matthew Peca had a shorthanded breakaway with a chance to extend the lead, but Skarek answered with a huge response for the Islanders. Just seconds later, Chris Terry skated into the slot and unleashed a try past Ellis on the glove side, tying the score 3:20 into the second.

Less than three minutes later, the Islanders used the momentum to vault in front as Brian Pinho slid a spinning pass right to the tape of Dufour, who cashed in at 6:15 to make it a 2-1 Bridgeport advantage.

That Islander lead lasted all of 28 seconds before Peca responded with a redirection of a Samuel Johannesson try at 6:43, bringing the score back to 2-2.

The 2-2 tie also ended in a hurry. Just 1:03 after the Peca tally, Alex Jefferies one-timed a slick Wyatt Newpower pass behind Ellis from the left circle, restoring the Islanders' lead to 3-2.

The Islanders' discipline gravely cost them in the back half of the middle frame, as a tripping infraction and a too-many-men minor gave Springfield over a minute of 5-on-3 time. With the extended advantage, Dalibor Dvorsky cashed in with a rapid one-timer off set-ups by Johannesson and Matt Luff, tying the game, 3-3, at 14:56.

With still over a minute of 5-on-4 time, the suddenly surging Springfield power play kept the pedal down, and Tucker blasted a bar-down slapper that picked the top corner at 15:33, restoring the T-Birds lead, 4-3, heading into the final frame.

Foudy got the Islanders back even at 6:49 of the third as he grabbed a loose puck at the left edge of the crease and twisted a backhander behind Ellis to get the game equalized for a fourth time, 4-4. Bridgeport heavily outshot and out-chanced Springfield in the final period, but Ellis rebounded to turn away 17 third-period shots to get the T-Birds into overtime.

With the game down to a sudden death scenario, Dylan Peterson came through for the home team, taking a centering pass in the left circle from Peca and roofing a wrist shot on the short side, giving the T-Birds their third straight win at 2:47 of overtime.

The T-Birds look to make it four consecutive triumphs on Saturday night as they welcome the Rockford IceHogs for the annual Teddy Bear Toss. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Thunderdome. Fans who cannot attend will have the ability to watch on CoziTV as well as AHLTV.

Interested 2024-25 season ticket members can call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com to learn how to become a regular at the Thunderdome.

-- SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS -


• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2024


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Springfield Thunderbirds Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central