BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
SPRINGFIELD, MA – An early third-period power play goal was the difference as the Springfield Thunderbirds, playing their first game since the infamous “Brawl Game” on March 19, 2019, defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack, 2-1.
At 6:38 of the third period and just eight seconds into the power play, the Thunderbirds, the AHL affiliates of the St. Louis Blues, scored. Winger Nathan Todd was on the right side playing keep away from the Pack. He found Matt Peca (Quinnipiac University) wide-open on the back door. Peca received the pass and slammed home what proved to be the game-winning goal.
The loss spoiled a superlative 40-save performance from Adam Huska (UCONN). Huska used all pieces of his equipment to keep the Wolf Pack in the game.
The Wolf Pack power play struggled with putting the puck in the net all night, despite a well-played man-advantage late in the game.
They had a five-on-three chance that came up empty. The Thunderbirds have killed twelve power plays in two games.
FAST START FOR THUNDERBIRDS
Springfield came out fast at the start. At 20 seconds into the contest, fleet-footed Nathan “Stormy” Walker, a five-year veteran and Australian from Wales, tested Huska, who made a blocker save.
The Thunder Dome (aka Mass Mutual Center) was ready to roar as they tallied the first goal as Logan Brown, the son of ex-Hartford Whaler Jeff Brown, got the scoring sequence started on their first power play. Brown passed the puck to Mike Perunovich, and he waited for a screen to get into place and then launched a right-point shot. The puck was deflected by Nikita Alexandrov, who was all alone in front of the Russian rookie for a 1-0 lead.
Huska was acrobatic and impenetrable, stopping everything over the first two periods from Walker to Sam Anas screaming as a right hand shot off the left-wing.
Morgan Barron tied the score in the second period with a man-advantage tally of his own. The three Thunderbirds in the vicinity converted another Johnny Brodzinski pass while Huska kept the front and back door shut like stopping Sam Anas coming in off the left wing on a two on one.
NOTES
WP and current Wolf Pack and ex-Thunderbird, Anthony Greco was hurt and didn’t play in the third period.
Springfield had several Connecticut, Wolf Pack, and second-generation connections.
Griffin Luce played at Salisbury School. Sam Anas at Quinnipiac University (ECACHL). The entire coaching staff was ex-Pack. Springfield’s Head Coach, Drew Bannister (also the son-in-law of original Wolf Pack assistant coach Mike Busniuk), Assistant Coaches Stu Bickel, a late hire, and Daniel Thaczuk (also an ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger) and Tommy Cross (Simsbury/Westminster Prep).
Second-generation Springfield players included Alexey Toropchenko (father Leonid) and former Springfield Indians, current Dallas assistant John Stevens, the son of Nolan Stevens, also an ex-Hartford Whaler.
Nick Jerman (Quinnipiac University) was traded from the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) to the Ft. Wayne Komets (ECHL).
Ex-Pack Tomas Zaborsky was let go by HC Liberec (Czech Republic-CEL) and signed with ERC Schenirer (Germany-DEL).
Neil Robinson (Kent School) was released by the Worcester Railers (ECHL) training camp.
LABRIE
The newest Wolf Pack is a 14-year veteran in Pierre-Cedric Labrie who hails from Quebec. The Wolf Pack have agreed to a 25 game PTO deal with the veteran of 630 AHL games. Labrie has 198 points (89 goals, 109 assists) and 1,105 PIM’s.
His father-in-law is Montreal Canadiens great and current Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) head coach/GM, Patrick Roy, and he played the last two years with Eisbaren Berlin (Germany-DEL), winning the championship last year, had 13 goals in 70 games plus won a Calder Cup in 2011-12 with Norfolk.
The New York Rangers won on the road at Montreal, 3-1. Alexis Lafreniere, who grew up near Montreal, played before family and friends and had Greg McKegg’s game-winner wearing jersey #14. The WP game on Sunday afternoon will be important after Kaapo Kakko sustained an upper-body injury. A recall is entirely possible.
Related
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK PREGAME: ATLANTIC SEMIS VS. BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins open their second Calder Cup Playoff series in as many years against each other tonight at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05…
WOLF PACK COMPLETE PAIR OF TRANSACTIONS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack Bryce McConnell-Barker Reassigned by Rangers, Maxim Barbashev Released from ATO HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned forward Bryce McConnell-Barker to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack from…
ROAD WARRIORS LOST TO RABBITS; SWAMP RABBTS IMPRESSIVE IN DEFEAT
SOLAR BEARS TAKE SERIES LEAD WITH OVERTIME WIN Orlando puts Greenville on the brink despite Colton Young’s 3-point night, Bobby Russell’s pair of goals By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits ORLANDO, Fla. – Despite a high-scoring affair, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits fell to the Orlando…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
WOLF PACK PREGAME: ATLANTIC SEMIS VS. BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins open their second Calder Cup Playoff series in as many years against each other tonight at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05…
WOLF PACK COMPLETE PAIR OF TRANSACTIONS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack Bryce McConnell-Barker Reassigned by Rangers, Maxim Barbashev Released from ATO HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned forward Bryce McConnell-Barker to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack from…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
GARAND AND WOLF PACK ELIMINATE CHECKERS IN 3
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack CHARLOTTE, NC – Dylan Garand made a playoff career-high 39 saves on Sunday afternoon to help the Hartford Wolf Pack complete their First Round series victory over the Charlotte Checkers. The Wolf Pack used a five-on-five, powerplay, and shorthanded…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
Stay connected with ours socials