
Top Line Helps T-Birds Earn Point vs. Bruins
January 25, 2025 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (18-17-2-2) got a combined eight points from their top line but ultimately fell in a shootout by a 4-3 score to the Providence Bruins (23-13-3-1) on Saturday night before a seventh sellout crowd this season at the MassMutual Center.
T-Birds captain Matthew Peca got the capacity crowd energized just 3:48 into the first period, taking a slip pass from Matt Luff in the high slot and wiring a shot over Brandon Bussi's blocker to give Springfield the 1-0 advantage.
Springfield carried over their strong special teams night on Friday by dispatching the Bruins' lone power play of the first period, but the Providence attack kept pressing the issue. Georgii Merkulov evened the slate at 13:35 with a one-touch finish from just outside the blue paint, beating Vadim Zherenko upstairs to tie the score 1-1.
Neither team generated much offense in the closing minutes of the period, and the tie game carried into period two, with Providence outshooting Springfield 10-6 in the opening 20 minutes.
The Bruins vaulted to their first lead just 1:59 into the second period when Frederic Brunet found a home with a point shot off a faceoff play, making it 2-1.The T-Birds had a golden chance to get back in the game as they went to a 4-on-3 power play shortly after the Brunet tally, but Bussi and the Providence penalty killers held the fort.
Later in the frame, with Providence on a power play, Ian Mitchell rocketed a one-timer past Zherenko, and the visitors' lead grew to 3-1 at 11:04 of the frame.
In desperate need of a spark, Peca and the top line provided one at 15:32 when the captain entered the zone and lifted a shot over the net. Fortunately enough, the puck careened right to the side of the goal, where MacKenzie MacEachern jabbed it through Bussi to bring Springfield back to within a goal, 3-2. With the good fortune, the veteran winger picked up his fifth goal in his last nine games.
On the very next shift, MacEachern and Peca were at it again, with the captain spotting MacEachern behind the net, and the winger blindly throwing a perfect pass in front of the goal to Luff, who mashed it home before Bussi could position himself and, thanks to two goals in just 18 seconds, the game was tied, 3-3, heading into the third.
Springfield kept pressing in the final period, but Bussi and the top defensive squad in the AHL kept the home side from gaining the advantage. Zherenko was also up to the challenge, stopping five shots in the third, including a dangerous close-in chance for Fabian Lysell in the dying minutes.
3-on-3 overtime proved to be a showcase of the two netminders' skills, as Bussi and Zherenko traded spectacular saves during the frenetic five-minute frame. Each team had four chances to ice the game, but thanks to the goalies, a shootout would be needed.
Merkulov ultimately made the difference, beating Zherenko in the opening round of the skills competition, while Bussi turned away Tanner Dickinson, forced Luff to hit a post, and then stonewalled Dalibor Dvorsky to earn the extra point for Providence.
The T-Birds conclude the three-game weekend on Sunday as they host the Hartford Wolf Pack at 3:05 p.m. inside the Thunderdome.
Fans can get their Thunderbirds tickets today by calling (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or by visiting www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.
-- SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS -
Images from this story
![]() Springfield Thunderbirds on game night |
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2025
- Colorado Falls Short in 2-1 OT Loss to Silver Knights - Colorado Eagles
- The Abbotsford Canucks Pick Up Their 8th Straight Win In An Offensive Game Against The Roadrunners - Abbotsford Canucks
- Roadrunners' Early Lead Slips Away in 6-2 Loss to Abbotsford - Tucson Roadrunners
- Rosen's Hat Trick Powers Amerks to 6-3 Win in Chaotic Clash with Wolf Pack - Rochester Americans
- Phantoms Slip Past Islanders, 2-1 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Bears Leave Belleville with 5-3 Win - Hershey Bears
- Iowa Earns Point in 3-2 Shootout Defeat to Texas - Iowa Wild
- Belleville Sens Can't Beat Bears on Back-To-Back Nights - Belleville Senators
- Ads Earn Point in Overtime Loss - Milwaukee Admirals
- Monsters Score Late but Fall 4-3 in Overtime to Crunch - Cleveland Monsters
- IceHogs Bested by Wolves in OT 3-2 - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolves Prevail Over IceHogs 3-2 in OT - Chicago Wolves
- Merkulov, P-Bruins Edge Thunderbirds in Shootout - Providence Bruins
- Crunch Rally Past Monsters, 4-3, in Overtime - Syracuse Crunch
- Checkers Sink Admirals for OT Win - Charlotte Checkers
- Top Line Helps T-Birds Earn Point vs. Bruins - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Stars' Road Win Streak Hits Nine After Shootout Victory - Texas Stars
- Wolf Pack Doubled Up By Americans 6-3 In Wild Affair - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Penguins Defeat Comets, 2-1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Barracuda Earn Point in OT Loss to Marlies - San Jose Barracuda
- Comets Win Streak Ends vs Penguins, Lose 2-1 - Utica Comets
- Sheldon Dries' Two-Goal Game Lifts Griffins over Moose - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Grand Rapids Edges Moose Again - Manitoba Moose
- Isaac Belliveau Reassigned to Wheeling - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Game Day Preview - CGY vs SD - Calgary Wranglers
- Preview: Phantoms vs. Islanders, Game #42 - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- San Diego Gulls Release Michal Stinil from Professional Tryout - San Diego Gulls
- Tickets Going Fast for Autism Awareness Saturday Night - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolf Pack Look to Rebound vs. Americans - Hartford Wolf Pack
- IceHogs and Wolves Meet for In-State Showdown - Rockford IceHogs
- Tampa Bay Lightning Acquire Forward Ryder Korczak from New York Rangers - Syracuse Crunch
- Rangers Acquire Forward Lucas Edmonds from Tampa Bay Lightning in Exchange for Forward Ryder Korczak - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game #39 Preview: Tucson Roadrunners vs Abbotsford Canucks - Tucson Roadrunners
- Game Preview: Bears at Senators, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Reign Edge Condors in Shootout - Ontario Reign
- Eagles Drop First Game of Road Trip, 6-3 - Colorado Eagles
- Phantoms Welcome Back Fan Faves But Fall to T-Birds - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
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.
