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AHL Springfield Thunderbirds

T-Birds Feast on Islanders for 5th Straight Win

November 24, 2021 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds News Release


Springfield Thunderbirds exchange congratulations after a win
Springfield Thunderbirds exchange congratulations after a win
(Springfield Thunderbirds)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The first place Springfield Thunderbirds (13-2-2-0) completed a three-game sweep of the Bridgeport Islanders (5-10-1-2) and captured their fifth straight win overall in a 4-1 win on Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center.

Springfield's offense gave Bridgeport goaltender Cory Schneider plenty of work in the opening 20 minutes, using three power plays and steady offensive pressure to post 19 shots on net over the opening stanza. However, the Islanders defense never buckled in front of Schneider, and a perfect 3-for-3 penalty kill supplemented Schneider's stellar start to the game.

At the other end, Charlie Lindgren, who entered with a 6-1-1 record in his first eight starts, saw just eight shots, but his rebound control was superb to keep the Islanders' offense equally puzzled.

Schneider did all he could to keep the game in check, but the T-Birds broke down the levee walls in the second period with a four-minute stretch that rivaled the most prolific in-game charges in team history. Josh Wesley fired the first blow with a bar-down wrist shot over Schneider's glove hand at 6:04 to make it a 1-0 game off a slick cross-ice feed from Logan Brown.

2:07 later, at 4-on-4, Nathan Walker and Brown continued their feast against the Islanders as Walker set up Brown from the side of the net, and Brown pushed a backhander home as he was cruising through the blue paint to make it 2-0. Walker and Brown's points on that tally put each of them at nine points against the Islanders on the young season.

Only 29 more seconds passed before Hugh McGing rocketed a one-time slapper over Schneider's glove on a pass from Matthew Peca. McGing's blast from the left circle at 8:40 made it a 3-0 lead on Springfield's second 4-on-4 goal of the game.

The T-Birds still were not content with a three-goal cushion, as Mackenzie MacEachern pounced on a rebound from an Alexey Toropchenko redirection and potted his second of the season at 9:57, ending a run of three goals in just 3:53 of game action to turn a scoreless game into a 4-0 romp.

Lindgren carried his shutout into the game's final two minutes before Austin Czarnik finally cashed in for Bridgeport on a power play with just 1:34 left on the clock. Springfield finished the 4-1 victory having outshot the Islanders 48-19. Schneider battled to make 44 saves in the loss. Lindgren's win was his fourth straight overall, and he has allowed just four goals on his last 96 shots faced.

The Thunderbirds will look to tie a team record as they shoot for their sixth straight win on Friday night in Hartford in a matchup with the second-place Wolf Pack. Puck drop from the XL Center is set for 7:00 p.m.

For more information on the Springfield Thunderbirds and to order tickets, please visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com. To learn more about becoming a Thunderbirds ticket member, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) to speak to a Thunderbirds representative.

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Springfield Thunderbirds exchange congratulations after a win
Springfield Thunderbirds exchange congratulations after a win
   



American Hockey League Stories from November 24, 2021


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