T-Birds' Hard-Fought Effort Earns Point vs. Penguins
November 26, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL) - Springfield Thunderbirds News Release
Springfield Thunderbirds vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
(Springfield Thunderbirds)
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (7-7-0-4) fought valiantly but were bested in a shootout, 3-2, by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (10-5-1-1) on Saturday night at the MassMutual Center in a game that saw the T-Birds debut their alternate, blue third jerseys.
Two of the league's top eight defensive units showed off their prowess in the opening 19 minutes, as both teams' penalty-killing units fended off an opposition chance, while goalies Joel Hofer of Springfield and Filip Lindberg of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton traded saves in a period that had 27 shots find the target.
Lindberg finally blinked first with just 37.7 seconds left in the period. Hugh McGing scooped up a loose puck below the goal line and circled his way to the top of the left circle before turning to his forehand and beating Lindberg on the glove side to make it 1-0. It was McGing's fourth goal of the season, but just his second in the last 12 games.
Hofer would stay perfect until the 13:31 mark of the middle period. After a Penguin face-off win in the offensive zone, Ty Smith hit Jon Lizotte for a one-timer from the center point position. Sam Poulin cut through the shooting lane and got a piece of the initial attempt to guide it past Hofer, tying the game, 1-1.
The T-Birds' final-minute magic came to the forefront once again in period two. With a man advantage in the dying seconds, Martin Frk set up Jake Neighbours for a one-timer from the right circle. Will Bitten did the work from there, taking away Lindberg's eyes and deflecting the shot through the netminder with 2.7 seconds to play, giving Springfield the 2-1 advantage into the third on his seventh goal of the year.
Springfield had multiple chances to extend their one-goal advantage, but Lindberg did not blink on a pair of chances off a Frk slap shot that was labeled for the top corner, as well as a Bitten one-touch shot from point-blank range.
The T-Birds defense could not quite take the lead across the finish line, as Valtteri Puustinen raced into the Springfield zone ahead of a defender and then outwaited Hofer, slipping a forehand shot through the five-hole to tie the game, 2-2, with just 3:05 to play.
Hofer did keep his team alive after making five stellar stops in the 3-on-3 overtime period, forcing the game into a shootout. While Dmitri Samorukov beat Lindberg on the first shot of the affair, the Penguins bounced back on tallies from Alex Nylander and Poulin, while Lindberg came up with glove saves on both Brady Lyle and Bitten.
Springfield returns to the road for three of its next four games, beginning with a Sunday matinee against the Bridgeport Islanders at 3:00 p.m. at Total Mortgage Arena.
Thunderbirds fans can reserve their seats for the 2022-23 season and lock in the best prices and member benefits by calling (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visiting www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.
Images from this story
 Springfield Thunderbirds vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2022
- Reign fall to Roadrunners - Ontario Reign
- Antoine Bibeau Shines in Belleville Sens' Victory - Belleville Senators
- Phantoms Dominate Amerks 5-1 - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Oskari Salminen Finishes With 24 Saves In Victory - Manitoba Moose
- Texas Completes Two-Game Road Sweep Over Chicago - Texas Stars
- Manitoba's Power-Play Takes Down Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Amerks Stumble Against Phantoms In Weekend Finale - Rochester Americans
- Wolves Defeated by Stars 5-1 - Chicago Wolves
- Another Late Comeback Caps Pens' 3-2 Shootout Win - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Dylan Garand Makes Career-High 38 Saves, But Wolf Pack Fall 1-0 in Shootout to Bears - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Sikura Tallies Twice; Hogs Split Weekend with Admirals - Rockford IceHogs
- Bears Prevail In 1-0 Shootout Win Over Wolf Pack - Hershey Bears
- Toporowski's Hat-Trick and Wagner's Overtime Winner Lead P-Bruins to 6-5 Victory Over Crunch - Providence Bruins
- Crunch Topped by Bruins, 6-5, in Overtime - Syracuse Crunch
- Afanasyev Scores Two in Admirals' Win - Milwaukee Admirals
- Sikura Tallies Twice, Hogs Split Weekend With Admirals - Rockford IceHogs
- T-Birds' Hard-Fought Effort Earns Point vs. Penguins - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Barracuda Sign Defenseman Jalen Smereck to PTO - San Jose Barracuda
- Comets Holtz Lifts Team In Overtime Over Checkers, 3-2 - Utica Comets
- Colorado Eagles Outlast Iowa Wild, 2-1 - Iowa Wild
- Colorado Rallies for Sixth-Straight Win in 2-1 Triumph Over Iowa - Colorado Eagles
- San Diego Gulls Reassign Goaltender Daniel Mannella to Tulsa - San Diego Gulls
- Greaves Backs Monsters to 5-1 Win Over Marlies - Cleveland Monsters
- Colorado Eagles Recall Forward Tarun Fizer - Colorado Eagles
- Wolf Pack Eye Weekend Split in Rematch vs. Bears at XL Center - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild at Colorado Eagles - Iowa Wild
- NHL Veteran Alex Chiasson Joins Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Monsters Sign Defenseman Brenden Miller to Pro Tryout Contract - Cleveland Monsters
- Game Preview: Bears at Wolf Pack, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Game #16 - Roadrunners at Reign - Tucson Roadrunners
- Surging Hogs Offense Heads to Milwaukee - Rockford IceHogs
- Sikura, Hogs Snap Admirals' Streak - Rockford IceHogs
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.
