Sports stats



AHL Springfield Thunderbirds

T-Birds' Home Win Streak Stopped by Kinkaid & Pack

February 25, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds News Release


Springfield Thunderbirds goaltender Charlie Lindgren vs. the Hartford Wolf Pack
Springfield Thunderbirds goaltender Charlie Lindgren vs. the Hartford Wolf Pack
(Springfield Thunderbirds)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (27-15-5-2) ran into a red-hot goaltender and fell by a final count of 3-1 to the Hartford Wolf Pack (24-15-4-2) on Friday night at the MassMutual Center.

It became clear in the opening 20 minutes that goals would be at a premium with two of the best goalies in the division - Charlie Lindgren for Springfield and Keith Kinkaid for Hartford - going toe-to-toe. It was a steady diet of chances for both goalies in the opening period, with 29 combined shots entering the goal creases. Kinkaid got all 16 saves he needed to get, and Lindgren matched him shot-for-shot at the other end, as the T-Birds killed off two Hartford power plays in the process in the opening frame.

Hartford's penalty kill returned the favor in the second, keeping Springfield off the board twice in the opening half of the middle stanza. As the T-Birds neared their 30th shot of the night in just the second frame, they finally cracked Kinkaid at the 15:52 mark of the period, as a misfired Wolf Pack pass sprung Will Bitten and Nathan Walker on a 2-on-1. From the right-wing circle, Bitten fed Walker on the opposite side. After fielding the puck slickly out of his feet, Walker threw it back toward the crease, where Bitten stopped at the paint and allowed it to carom off his skate and in past Kinkaid to make it a 1-0 game on Bitten's sixth goal as a Thunderbird.

While not facing shots at quite the same rate as Kinkaid, Lindgren still was at the peak of his powers, upping his two-period save total to 20 as Springfield carried a lead into the final 20 minutes.

Springfield had multiple chances to extend the lead in the final period, but Kinkaid was stellar, stopping both Bitten and Matthew Peca on breakaway chances, buying his team a chance to get back in the game.

At 8:33 of the final period, the Wolf Pack finally cracked Lindgren, as Anthony Greco fired a left-side shot that kicked off Lindgren's left pad into the slot area. Justin Richards crashed the center lane and was able to snap it past the T-Bird goalie and tie the game, 1-1.

Less than four minutes later, Hartford stunned the Springfield crowd as Richards set up in front of the net and saw a Greco shot go off Ty Ronning's stick and then off of his body and through Lindgren at 12:16 to give the Wolf Pack a 2-1 lead.

Springfield never once let off the offensive accelerator, bringing their game shot total to 45, but Kinkaid could not be bested on this night, improving to 5-1 in the season series against the T-Birds. Lindgren made 29 saves but was saddled with a hard-luck loss, just his third in regulation all season.

The homestand continues Saturday as the T-Birds host Charlotte on Saturday for Military Appreciation Night before welcoming the Hershey Bears and Providence Bruins on the weekend of March 4-5.

For more information on the Springfield Thunderbirds and to learn more about becoming a 2022-23 ticket member, please visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com or call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) to speak to a Thunderbirds representative.

Check out the Springfield Thunderbirds Statistics




Images from this story

Springfield Thunderbirds goaltender Charlie Lindgren vs. the Hartford Wolf Pack
Springfield Thunderbirds goaltender Charlie Lindgren vs. the Hartford Wolf Pack
   

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

American Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2022


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