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AHL Springfield Thunderbirds

T-Birds Top Line Flourishes, But Bruins Prevail

December 27, 2019 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds News Release


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (16-16-2-0) could not overcome multiple deficits and the Providence Bruins prevailed (20-11-1-2) by a final score of 4-3 on Friday night inside the MassMutual Center before a crowd of 6,544.

The goaltenders and their defense would be plenty busy in the opening period, as Sam Montembeault and Dan Vladar were put to work early and often in an opening period that saw 21 combined shots on net. Providence had the first golden chance to take a 1-0 lead, but Paul Carey whistled a cross-ice pass over the net from the left circle.

At the other end, Ryan Haggerty and Dryden Hunt each had thoughts of opening the scoring in the initial frame, but the goal post reared its ugly head both times, and Vladar had the answers for 11 other shots that would reach his net. Both squads saw their penalty kills succeed on one occasion in the back half of the first period as well.

It would take breakaways for both goalies to be beat on this night, as Aleksi Saarela first snapped a four-game goal drought as he backhanded it over the glove of Vladar at 12:20. Just 15 seconds later, though, Robert Lantosi got Providence back even, 1-1, on their first goal in over two full games, as he deked Montembeault out on the forehand to slide the puck into the empty net at 12:35.

The 1-1 tie lasted into the final minute of the period, but Jack Studnicka broke the deadlock as he streamed past the edge of the crease and saw a Lantosi shot tip off him and past Montembeault to make it a 2-1 game into the second intermission.

The T-Birds had a power play to start the final period, and just 15 seconds into the period, Saarela appeared to tie the game with an open net, but the whistle was blown as the officials lost sight of the puck. In the end, the Bruins killed the penalty, and Ryan Fitzgerald completed a 2-on-0 pass from Brendan Gaunce to give Providence a 3-1 lead at 3:48 of the final period.

Less than two minutes later, Owen Tippett snapped his five-game point slump as he deflected a Saarela pass through Vladar at 5:37 to make it 3-2 on a power play goal.

Another three minutes passed, and the Bruins again found a way to find an insurance goal, with Pavel Shen streaking down the middle lane and taking a pass from Joona Koppanen and snapping it past Montembeault at 9:35 of the final period to make it 4-2.

Springfield would not go down easily, as Tommy Cross got the T-Birds back within a goal at 18:44 with Montembeault on the bench. Vladar and the Bruins held the fort though in the final seconds to hold on for a 4-3 win.

The T-Birds look for a bounce-back on Saturday as they visit the Bridgeport Sound Tigers with the game starting at 7:00 p.m.

For more ticket information or to become a 2019-20 Springfield Thunderbirds ticket package member, or to purchase single game tickets, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.

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