
T-Birds Outpaced by Comets in Utica
December 17, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds News Release
UTICA, N.Y. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (10-12-1-4) could not overcome an explosive offensive night by the Utica Comets (10-9-3-1) in a 7-3 Utica victory on Saturday night at Adirondack Bank Center.
Utica jumped to the offense immediately against a T-Birds team that had only allowed 11 first-period goals all season coming into Saturday's action. Defenseman Nikita Okhotiuk launched a point slapper that found its way over Joel Hofer on the blocker side, giving Utica the 1-0 edge at 2:23.
Like Friday night, the home side had a big shot edge, 14-8, through the opening 20 minutes. A familiar face added to the Comets' lead when Nolan Stevens took a centering pass from Joe Gambardella and snapped a forehander home to make it 2-0 at 14:48.
Things appeared even bleaker for the T-Birds when Nolan Foote squeaked a short-side shot through Hofer from the left side just 1:23 into the second, making it a 3-0 lead for the Comets.
Down, but not out, the Thunderbirds power play changed the tide at 8:26. Brady Lyle made a remarkable play to keep in a clearing attempt at the left point. The blue-liner immediately threw the puck to the net, where Hugh McGing chopped a rebound through Nico Daws to make it 3-1.
The Comets' penalty kill bounced back to keep the T-Birds two goals away, but a third Springfield power play brought another tally as Martin Frk fired a wrist shot from the point, creating a rebound off of Daws' pad. Nikita Alexandrov was positioned perfectly in the right circle to beat Daws and bring the deficit to 3-2 at 13:46.
Stevens responded not-so-kindly just 32 seconds later, winning a board battle and eventually finding the puck on his stick to the left of Hofer, where he beat his former teammate for the second time, making it 4-2 at 14:18.
Not to be outdone, the T-Birds made their own luck to conclude a 19-shot barrage in the period. As he was being hit down to the ice, Drew Callin wildly snapped a shot toward the goal near the right corner that squeezed through Daws' arm, restoring the one-goal game, 4-3, with just 1:45 left in the period.
Robbie Russo put the Thunderbirds' comeback hopes on the backburner when he slapped a point shot home at the 7:44 mark of the third period, making it a 5-3 Utica lead. Michael Vukojevic followed with his first goal of the year at 12:10, and the Comets' lead built to 6-3.
Sam Laberge added an empty-net marker to round out the scoring with just over four minutes remaining. Daws earned the victory despite allowing three goals on 32 shots.
The T-Birds continue their road trip with a visit to Hartford on Thursday night against the Wolf Pack inside XL Center.
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' Greg Printz Battles Utica Comets' Nico Daws |
American Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2022
- Ontario Blanks Bakersfield - Ontario Reign
- Tucson Stops San Diego, 9-4 - San Diego Gulls
- Roadrunners Match Franchise Record with Nine Goals in 9-4 Win Over San Diego Gulls - Tucson Roadrunners
- Eagles Complete Sweep With 5-2 Win Over Barracuda - Colorado Eagles
- Ads Drop Wild Affair to Marlies - Milwaukee Admirals
- Wolf Pack Outshoot IceHogs 40-25, But Fall 3-2 in Road Trip Finale - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Crunch Slip Past Islanders 4-3 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Marody Unleashes the Teddy Bears - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Second-Period Surge from Chicago Downs Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Islanders Fall In Syracuse On Saturday - Bridgeport Islanders
- Hogs Tame the Wolf Pack with 3-2 Win - Rockford IceHogs
- Third Period Tallies Lift Stars to 3-1 Win Over Wild - Iowa Wild
- Lettieri Nets Overtime Winner, P-Bruins Complete Comeback - Providence Bruins
- Wolves Cruise Past Griffins 5-1 - Chicago Wolves
- Stars Secure Sweep in Iowa with Seventh Straight Win - Texas Stars
- Comets Dominate at Home Saturday Night - Utica Comets
- T-Birds Outpaced by Comets in Utica - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Crunch Edge Islanders, 4-3 - Syracuse Crunch
- Silver Knights Triumph Over Abbotsford, 3-0, at Home - Henderson Silver Knights
- Nylander Scores Teddy Bear Toss Goal in 2-1 OT Loss - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sgarbossa Lifts Bears To 2-1 Overtime Victory Against Penguins - Hershey Bears
- Subban Backstops Amerks to Weekend Sweep of Checkers - Rochester Americans
- Checkers Shut Out By Rochester - Charlotte Checkers
- Abbotsford Canucks End Road Trip with 3-0 Loss in Henderson - Abbotsford Canucks
- Arvid Holm Ends With 36 Saves In Home Victory - Manitoba Moose
- Belleville Sens Stymied in Manitoba - Belleville Senators
- Fucale Recalled by Caps, Bears Ink Padraig Carey to PTO - Hershey Bears
- Monsters Blast Past Rocket in 7-4 Win - Cleveland Monsters
- Bellows Recalled to Flyers - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Minnesota Wild Reassigns Forward Sammy Walker to Iowa - Iowa Wild
- Wolf Pack Go for Sweep of Midwest in Visit to Rockford - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild vs. Texas Stars - Iowa Wild
- Iowa Wild Announces Russell Dickerson Postgame Concert for March 11 - Iowa Wild
- Toronto Marlies Visit Milwaukee Admirals in Weekend Matchup - Toronto Marlies
- Game Preview: Bears at Penguins, 6:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Belleville Sens Sign Forward Joe Carroll to Professional Tryout - Belleville Senators
- Bridgeport Islanders Face Crunch at 7 p.m. Tonight - Bridgeport Islanders
- Game #24 - Roadrunners at Gulls - Tucson Roadrunners
- Hogs Welcome Wolf Pack to Stateline for Holidays - Rockford IceHogs
- Firebirds Finish Road Trip With Lopsided Win Over Gulls - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Silver Knights Fall, 3-2, to Abbotsford at Home - Henderson Silver Knights
- San Diego Downed by Coachella Valley, 8-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Barracuda Clawed by Eagles, 4-3 - San Jose Barracuda
- Wouters Scores Winner in 3-2 Abbotsford Victory Over Henderson - Abbotsford Canucks
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
- T-Birds Announce Hockey Ops Staff Hires & Promotions
- T-Birds Recognized with AHL Award of Excellence for Digital Media
- T-Birds Reveal 2025-26 Regular Season Schedule
- T-Birds to Open 2025-26 Season vs. Charlotte on October 11
- Blues Re-Sign F Matt Luff, G Vadim Zherenko, and D Hunter Skinner

