
T-Birds' Comeback Thwarted by Checkers' PK
April 18, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (34-31-2-4) could not complete a two-goal comeback, falling 4-2 to the Charlotte Checkers (43-22-3-3) on Friday night inside a sold-out MassMutual Center.
As they have done all season to their opposition, the Checkers limited shooting opportunities for much of the opening half of the first while simultaneously creating their own offense on Colten Ellis and the T-Birds' net. The visitors broke through off the rush at 7:23 as Kyle Criscuolo slipped behind the last defender and chipped a forehand over Ellis on the blocker side to break the ice and give the Checkers a 1-0 advantage.
Springfield's power play had a chance to bring the game even, but could not solve a suffocating Charlotte penalty kill, the best one in the AHL coming into play on Friday. Kaapo Kahkonen did the job in the Checker goal crease on the T-Birds' seven offerings that made their way on net in the opening period.
Charlotte built upon their lead just 5:49 into the second as Oliver Okuliar scooped a rebound just in front of Ellis and the blue paint and tucked the second-chance bid around the Springfield goaltender for his 19th of the season to make it a 2-0 Checkers lead.
The T-Birds finally cracked Kahkonen when the game moved to 4-on-4 action in the closing minutes of the second, as Dalibor Dvorsky uncorked a sinking wrister from the right circle that slipped by the goalie's right pad to make it a 2-1 game on the rookie's 21st of the season.
1:35 into the third, the T-Birds pulled even on a highlight-reel deke deep in the offensive zone by Otto Stenberg, as the rookie weaved through a helpless defender before setting up Zach Dean for the tying marker, Dean's first goal since April 20, 2024. It was Dean's second point of the night in his first game action since Feb. 12.
Charlotte, ultimately, had one more bite back as Ben Steeves drove the puck wide into the left corner before sliding a centering pass to the waiting stick of Sandis Vilmanis, who one-timed it past Ellis at 6:51 of the third for the eventual game-winner.
The win did not come the easy way for the Checkers, though, as Springfield drew back-to-back penalties and pulled Ellis for a remarkable 6-on-3 advantage with less than three minutes to play. However, Kahkonen and the Checkers' number one ranked penalty kill lived up to their billing to seal the win, with Rasmus Asplund adding an empty-netter for good measure in the closing seconds.
With Lehigh Valley winning tonight, Springfield is now locked in as the 6-seed for the First Round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. If the Providence Bruins earn one point or more tomorrow against Bridgeport, then the first round match up will be the Thunderbirds versus the Bruins. If the Bruins lose in regulation and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defeats Lehigh Valley, then the Thunderbirds will face the Penguins.
Springfield closes the regular season in a rematch against the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. inside the sold-out Thunderdome. The day begins with the Community Bank N.A. Block Party at the Plaza at MGM Springfield at 4:00 p.m. before the scene shifts to the MassMutual Center. Fans can also watch the game at 7:05 p.m. on AHLTV powered by FloHockey or listen on NewsRadio 560 WHYN.
Fans can get their Thunderbirds tickets for the Calder Cup playoff push today by calling (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or by visiting www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.
-- SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS -
Images from this story
![]() Springfield Thunderbirds' Zach Dean on the ice |
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 18, 2025
- Colorado Claims Pacific Division Crown with 3-2 Win Over Roadrunners - Colorado Eagles
- Abbotsford Posts a Big Third Period to Take a 4-1 Win Over the Coachella Valley Firebirds - Abbotsford Canucks
- Griffins Drop Penultimate Regular Season Game in Rockford - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Moose Battle Back But Fall To Stars - Manitoba Moose
- Admirals Claim Central Division Title - Milwaukee Admirals
- Amerks Shut Out By Marlies In Home Finale - Rochester Americans
- Four-Goal First Period Powers Stars Past Moose - Texas Stars
- Jacob Melanson Scores Lone Goal in 4-1 Loss to Canucks - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Put a Bow on It- Phantoms Demolish Cleveland in Home Finale - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Rockford Rocks Grand Rapids 4-1 in Slugfest - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolves Blanked by Admirals 5-0 - Chicago Wolves
- Sens' Playoff Push Ends in 5-1 Loss in Laval - Belleville Senators
- Cleveland Monsters Clinch Playoff Berth, Open at Rocket Arena Thursday - Cleveland Monsters
- Dylan Roobroeck Scores 20th Goal as Wolf Pack Down Islanders 4-1 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Wolf Pack Tops Islanders - Bridgeport Islanders
- T-Birds' Comeback Thwarted by Checkers' PK - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Penguins Fight Hard But Lose to Bears, 4-2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sellout Crowd Sees Comets Fall to Syracuse - Utica Comets
- Monsters Fall to Phantoms, Despite Loss Clinch Playoff Berth - Cleveland Monsters
- Bears Take Down Penguins 4-2, Clinch Division - Hershey Bears
- Syracuse Crunch to Face Rochester Americans in North Division Semifinals - Syracuse Crunch
- Charlotte Defeats Springfield 4-2 on the Road - Charlotte Checkers
- Charlotte Defeats Springfield, 4-2, on the Road - Charlotte Checkers
- Crunch Defeat Comets, 3-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- IceHogs Announce 2024-25 Team Awards - Rockford IceHogs
- Wranglers Fall 8-3 to Barracuda - Calgary Wranglers
- Barracuda Explode for Eight Goals in 8-3 Win over Wranglers - San Jose Barracuda
- San Diego Gulls to Host Fan Appreciation Night Saturday, April 19 - San Diego Gulls
- Firebirds Clinch Home-Ice for First Round of Calder Cup Playoffs - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Penguins Call up Jack Beck, Chase Pietila from Wheeling - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- O'Reilly Named Winner of Fred T. Hunt Award - Milwaukee Admirals
- Milwaukee's Cal O'Reilly Voted Winner of AHL's Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award for 2024-25 - AHL
- Amerks Single Game Tickets for North Division Semifinals to Go on Sale Saturday - Rochester Americans
- Preview: Phantoms vs. Monsters, Game #71 - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Wolf Pack Conclude 2024-25 Season vs. Islanders - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Bears vs. Penguins, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Suspension to Islanders' Beckman Reduced to Eight Games - AHL
- Game Preview: Condors v Knights, 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- IceHogs Play Home Finale against Grand Rapids - Rockford IceHogs
- Preview: Islanders at Wolf Pack - Bridgeport Islanders
- Game #71 Preview: Tucson Roadrunners (33-31-4-2) vs Colorado Eagles (42-20-5-3) - Tucson Roadrunners
- Austin Watson Reassigned to Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
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
- St. Louis Blues Recall 3 Players from T-Birds
- T-Birds Unable to Find Special Teams Answers in Game 3
- Lettieri Lifts Bruins to 1-0 OT Win to Force Game 3
- Early Burst Sets Stage for Ellis to Steal Game 1 Win for T-Birds
- T-Birds to Face Bruins in First Round of Calder Cup Playoffs

