BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
SPRINGFIELD, MA – The Hartford Wolf Pack rode a spectacular 44-save performance from veteran goaltender Keith Kinkaid on Friday in Springfield to a 3-1 victory over the Thunderbirds.
Kincaid snuffed out four breakaways, frustrating the first-place Thunderbirds, and allowed the Wolf Pack time to find their game. His teammates rewarded him with a three-goal third period that secured the win.
The Wolf Pack secured their 15th comeback victory this season off a pair of Justin Richards tallies in the final period. Anthony Greco stepped into a shot high in the offensive zone that Ty Ronning redirected from the slot. The puck clipped Richards, screening goaltender Charlie Lindgren at 12:16. The goal put Hartford ahead 2-1 and proved to be the game-winner.
THUNDERBIRDS SCORE FIRST
The Thunderbirds dominated the play in the second period and broke the scorelessness with a goal at 15:52. Nathan Walker and Will Bitten bore down on Kinkaid on a two-on-one. Hunter Skinner was the sole Wolf Pack defending on the play. Walker’s pass went across to Bitten, who failed to get his stick on it. The puck bounced off Bitten’s leg but managed to slip past Kinkaid for his ninth goal of the season and the game’s only goal for the home team.
The Thunderbirds held a 17-7 advantage in shots through two periods. However, Kinkaid was spectacular, making 17 saves, three coming off breakaways, and keeping it a 1-0 game after forty minutes.
Matthew Peca got his second breakaway early in the third period, but Kinkaid denied him with the glove.
WOLF PACK FINALLY SCORE
The Wolf Pack finally gave their goaltender some scoring support after Kinkaid made his fourth breakaway stop of the evening.
Justin Richards scored his fourth goal of the season 8:33 into the third period tying the game 1-1. Greco fired a shot that Lindgren denied, but the rebound popped into the slot. Richards found it and tallied Hartford’s first goal and ended over a scoreless drought of over 120.00. Just under four minutes later, Richards’ second tally of the night gave Hartford their first lead.
The Thunderbirds pressed hard in the final minute but could not solve Kinkaid. Jonny Brodzinski cemented the victory with his team-leading 18th goal of the season, depositing an empty-net tally at 19:47.
The win snapped a six-game home winning streak for the Thunderbirds and gave Hartford their second win in Western Massachusetts this season.
