Thunderbirds double up Wolf Pack, 4-2
Nov 26, 2017(Photo by Chris Unger)
Thomas Schemitsch’s early third-period goal ended up the game-winner Sunday at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA, in a 4-2 Springfield Thunderbird win over the Wolf Pack.
Schemitsch gave the Thunderbirds a 3-1 lead at 4:46 of the third, on a shot from low in the right-wing circle that got past the glove side of Wolf Pack goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (35 saves), who had made a sparkling stop on Alexandre Grenier seconds earlier.
That goal loomed large, as Ryan Gropp brought the Wolf Pack back to within a goal with 6:32 left, scoring from the slot off a sharp setup by Adam Chapie.
Springfield ended the Wolf Pack’s comeback hopes at 18:21, though, when Denis Malgin scored into an empty net.
“I thought the guys did a real good job of trying to maintain their energy when they did have opportunities, trying to get traffic to the net,” said Wolf Pack head coach Keith McCambridge, whose team was playing its third game of the weekend while Springfield had a night off on Saturday. “Our execution in the offensive zone, with the special teams, on the power play, wasn’t where it needs to be in games like this. We know Springfield had a chance to sit idle [Saturday] night, and we had to do a better job of managing the game, and making sure that we’re executing at a high speed.”
After a scoreless first period, the Thunderbirds jumped on top 2:50 into the second frame. Curtis Valk sent the puck toward the net from the left circle and Jayce Hawryluk deflected it on goal. Georgiev made the save, but Francois Beauchemin pounced on the rebound and flicked it in.
The Wolf Pack tied the score at 7:38, three seconds after a Hartford power play expired. Vinni Lettieri banged the puck up the slot and it caromed to Scott Kosmachuk, whose first bid was denied spectacularly by Springfield netminder Harri Sateri (27 saves). Kosmachuk got his own rebound, though, with Sateri down and out, and Sateri had no chance on Kosmachuk’s second shot.
The tie lasted until there were only 58.3 seconds remaining in the period, when the Thunderbirds struck for a power play goal. With Ryan Graves off for slashing, Malgin passed from the top of the left circle to Hawryluk along the goal line, and his backhanded feed found Blaine Byron alone on the weak side, and he easily put the puck in for a 2-1 Springfield lead.
The Wolf Pack’s next game is also against the Thunderbirds, this Wednesday night, November 29 at the XL Center. That game faces off at 7:00, and is the next opportunity to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack”. The Family Value Pack includes two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for just $40.
Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2017-18 home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.
Season ticket information for the Wolf Pack’s 2017-18 AHL season can be found on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. To speak with a representative about all of the Wolf Pack’s many attractive ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451.
Hartford Wolf Pack 2 at Springfield Thunderbirds 4
Sunday, November 26, 2017 - MassMutual Center
Hartford 0 1 1 - 2
Springfield 0 2 2 - 4
1st Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Pedrie Hfd (cross-checking), 4:37; Schneider Hfd (holding), 10:26; Greco Spr (slashing), 12:07; Beauchemin Spr (high-sticking), 14:57; Pedrie Hfd (roughing), 18:51; Turgeon Spr (roughing), 18:51; Wittchow Spr (boarding), 18:51.
2nd Period-1, Springfield, Beauchemin 2 (Hawryluk, Valk), 2:50. 2, Hartford, Kosmachuk 3 (Lettieri, Chytil), 7:38. 3, Springfield, Byron 4 (Hawryluk, Malgin), 19:01 (PP). Penalties-served by Mamin Spr (bench minor - too many men), 5:35; Selleck Hfd (fighting), 15:23; Wittchow Spr (fighting), 15:23; Graves Hfd (slashing), 17:51.
3rd Period-4, Springfield, Schemitsch 5 (Grenier, Greco), 4:46. 5, Hartford, Gropp 2 (Chapie, Pedrie), 13:28. 6, Springfield, Malgin 4 (Mamin), 18:21 (EN). Penalties-served by Hawryluk Spr (bench minor - too many men), 11:15.
Shots on Goal-Hartford 7-10-12-29. Springfield 7-15-17-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 5; Springfield 1 / 3.
Goalies-Hartford, Georgiev 3-6-3 (38 shots-35 saves). Springfield, Sateri 4-5-0 (29 shots-27 saves).
A-3,755
Referees-Mackenzie Nichol (68), Peter MacDougall (45).
Linesmen-Frank Murphy (29), Robert St. Lawrence (10).