Late Bruins PP Goal Edges T-Birds

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Springfield Thunderbirds (34-20-5-2) hung tough in a back-and-forth affair, but fell by a final count of 3-2 to the Providence Bruins (30-17-3-6) on Saturday night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

For a third straight road contest this week, the Bruins found themselves behind by a goal in the opening period as Justin Brazeau cashed in at point-blank range on a slick pass from Eduards Tralmaks to get the better of Joel Hofer just 1:28 into the action. 

Despite the 1-0 deficit, the remainder of the period was littered with Springfield offensive chances. A pair of power plays, including a 1:09 stretch of two-man advantage time, generated numerous scoring opportunities, including a crossbar-ringer from Sam Anas.

With the period winding down, Springfield's continuous pressure on Providence goalie Kyle Keyser finally dented the scoresheet when Luke Witkowski let a slapper go at 17:50 that sneaked through traffic and slipped under Keyser's legs. It was Witkowski's first as a T-Bird in just his second game with the club, getting Springfield back even, 1-1, as the game hit the first intermission.

Witkowski's goal provided a springboard for the T-Birds to catapult to their first lead of the night just 13 seconds into the second. After an icing call was washed out, Matthew Peca intercepted a puck in the left-wing corner and found a cutting Anas in the slot area, and Anas potted his fourth goal in his last four games, his 19th of the season to make it a 2-1 game.

A key tipping point in the game came moments later as Nikita Alexandrov broke in all alone on Keyser, but the Providence goalie had the answer to keep the score at 2-1.

Like the T-Birds in the first, the Bruins got their crack at a 5-on-3 power play in the second, and unlike Springfield, the Bruins took advantage when Steven Fogarty beat Hofer with a blistering one-timer from the bottom of the left circle at 12:49 to equalize, 2-2.

Providence's power play came up with the biggest play of the night in the third at the 14:32 mark of the final period. After a jam play at the far post left Hofer and the T-Birds defense desperately trying to freeze the puck, the biscuit came popping out into the slot, where an alert Victor Berglund got to it and wristed it into a mostly-vacant net to give the Bruins the lead for good. Hofer and the T-Birds argued that the netminder did not have a chance to play his position, but the goal stood.

Despite some dangerous looks in the closing minutes, including a point-blank chance for Peca that got knocked away by Bruin defender Aaron Ness right near the goal line, Springfield could not get the game into overtime. It marked just the second time all season that the T-Birds fell in a one-goal game in regulation.

The Bruins now hold the narrowest of leads in the Atlantic Division with a .616 points percentage to Springfield's .615. The two clubs rematch next Friday night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, with puck drop set for 7:05 p.m.

For more information on the Springfield Thunderbirds and to learn more about becoming a 2022-23 ticket member, please visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com or call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) to speak to a Thunderbirds representative.