T-Birds Rattle Off Three Unanswered Goals to Down Wolf Pack

Hartford, CT – The Springfield Thunderbirds (9-13-1-0) gave up the game's first goal, but rallied to tally the next three goals, unanswered, to secure a 3-1 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack (7-12-2-1) at the XL Center on Wednesday night.

 

Springfield came out of the gates strongly, firing seven shots on Hartford goalie Alex Georgiev in the game's first five minutes. However, the Wolf Pack goalie came equally ready to play, coming up with a huge save on Alex Grenier in the game's opening moments.

 

Georgiev's heroics allowed his team time to wake from its slumber, and at 11:58, the Wolf Pack took a 1-0 lead on the first goal of the season for Gabriel Fontaine. After an Anthony DeAngelo point shot was deflected by Adam Tambellini, Harri Sateri made a strong initial stop, but Fontaine was in the right place to tuck the rebound over Sateri's shoulder to put Hartford in front.

 

Sateri would be the busier of the two goalies for the remainder of the period, but remained stable to stop 12 of 13 Wolf Pack offerings to keep the deficit at just a single goal.

 

The second period saw the Thunderbirds again jump out with immediate chances, but this time they did not miss the target. After Curtis Valk missed the net on a backhand bid in the first, he started the Thunderbirds' second goal by feeding Grenier in tight quarters. From the right corner, Grenier threw it back in front, where Maxim Mamin tapped home the feed into an open net just 31 seconds into the period to tie the game, 1-1.

 

While the Thunderbirds defense was holding the Wolf Pack to just three shots in the second period, the offensive onslaught continued. Off a clean face-off win by Juho Lammikko, Jayce Hawryluk picked up his third goal against Hartford this season with a wrister over the blocker hand of Georgiev at 9:38.

 

Eddie Wittchow made sure the lead would stand up for Springfield 3:21 into the third, as he parked himself in front of Georgiev, and pounded a rebound off a Max Fortunus point shot. Blaine Byron also picked up a helper on the insurance tally.

 

From there, Sateri and the penalty killers rose up to the occasion, fending off a four-minute power play and then one more to finish a perfect 5-for-5 on the kill for the second straight game.

 

Sateri completed his franchise record fifth consecutive win with 26 saves on 27 shots. Hartford did not have a single shot at even strength in the final 20 minutes.

 

Springfield takes flight for the first time this season as they pay a first-ever visit to the Charlotte Checkers for matchups at 7:15 p.m. Friday and 1:00 p.m. Sunday at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte. Both games can be heard on NewsRadio 560 WHYN.

 

Springfield Thunderbirds fans are encouraged to visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com to learn more about Thunderbirds Season Ticket Memberships. Packages start at just $12 per game, and Thunderbirds Full Season Ticket Members receive the most benefits, including a refillable collector’s mug and a commemorative jersey. For more information or to order now, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.