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AHL Springfield Thunderbirds

T-Birds Topped by Phantoms

March 19, 2022 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds News Release


Springfield Thunderbirds test the Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Springfield Thunderbirds test the Lehigh Valley Phantoms
(Springfield Thunderbirds)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (32-19-5-2) wound up on the wrong end of a 7-4 final score on Saturday against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (22-25-7-3) at the MassMutual Center.

The Thunderbirds found themselves on the wrong side of the opening goal as Lehigh Valley's power play ended a run of 10 consecutive failed chances between the two teams from the night before. At 9:37 of the opening period, Adam Clendening picked up a puck near the blue line at the right point. With Isaac Ratcliffe providing a screen in front of T-Birds starting netminder Charlie Lindgren, the Clendening shot found its way to the back of the net, with Ratcliffe receiving the credit for the opening power-play marker to make it 1-0 Phantoms.

That score would hold into the first intermission, as the two clubs combined for just 11 shots in the first (LV 7, SPR 4).

The offenses opened up in the second period in short order. Taking advantage of a fortuitous bounce off the corner glass, Tanner Kaspick won a race to a loose puck deep in the Phantoms zone and shuffled a backhander past Felix Sandstrom's glove to tie the score, 1-1, at 3:20 of period two.

Sandstrom, who faced just four shots in the first, had a far busier second period, but he came up to the challenge to make 16 stops, and his offense rewarded him with two breakaway tallies. First, Wade Allison found his way behind the Springfield defense at 11:12. While Allison's first shot got kicked away by Lindgren, Allison was able to reach the rebound deep in the right circle and beat Lindgren on the second chance to give Lehigh Valley the 2-1 lead.

Tanner Laczynski followed suit at 16:49, taking a stretch pass at the Springfield line and cutting in on the T-Birds netminder. Despite fumbling the puck near the crease, Laczynski stuck with the play and eventually found the loose biscuit to shuffle it home on the backhand to extend the Lehigh Valley lead to 3-1.

Springfield's power play was stymied on its first three chances, but on their fourth, James Neal cut the lead to 3-2, taking a pass between the circles from Sam Anas and beating Sandstrom on the glove side off one stick-handle for his 10th goal in 13 games.

Lehigh Valley's power play proved to be too much for Springfield on this night, however, as Cal O'Reilly found a loose puck in the right circle and cashed in on his first of two third period goals just 33 seconds into the final frame to make it 4-2. O'Reilly's second would come just 5:52 later off a giveaway deep in the T-Birds zone.

With Lindgren off to the bench for an extra attacker, Neal potted his second of the night and 11th of the year at 14:33 to cut the lead to 5-3, but empty-netters from Allison and Charlie Gerard at 16:17 and 19:09 respectively gave the Phantoms more than enough insurance.

Will Bitten tallied his 10th goal of the season and seventh as a T-Bird with a breakaway tally at 19:36 to round out the scoring.

Springfield, which dropped back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 23 and Jan. 26, will look to rebound away from home as they visit the Hartford Wolf Pack on Wednesday night at the XL Center at 7:00 p.m.

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.

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Springfield Thunderbirds test the Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Springfield Thunderbirds test the Lehigh Valley Phantoms
   



American Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2022


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