AHL Game Recap: Springfield Comeback Falls Short; Penguins Take Game Three

The Springfield Thunderbirds and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins met tonight for the third game in their best-of-five series. The Penguins took the first game on Tuesday night, 2-0. Springfield evened the series on Thursday after scoring three goals in the third to force overtime and completing the comeback for a 4-3 overtime win and evened the series. Georgi Romanov got the start for Springfield. He is 6-2-0 with a 1.64 goals-against average, a .947 save percentage, and a shutout. Sergei Murashov got the start for the Penguins. He is 4-2-0 with a 1.93 goals-against average, a .938 save percentage, and a shutout.

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Springfield Thunderbirds vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

First Period

Springfield had a great chance to open the scoring just under a minute in as Marc-Andre Gaudet fed a wide-open Zach Dean in front of the net, but Murashov made a great save. Springfield got the game’s first power play as Harrison Brunicke went to the box for tripping. The Penguins killed off that penalty, and not long after they killed it off, they got their first power play of the game. Michael Buchinger went to the box for slashing. Springfield killed off the power play. Just under 1.5 minutes left in the opening period, Springfield got another power play as Chase Pietila went to the box for high-sticking. The Penguins would take the lead on a shorthanded goal from Rutger McGroarty. The Penguins ended the period leading 1-0, and the shots on goal were even at ten.

Second Period 

The Thunderbirds started the second period with 36 seconds left on the man advantage. The Penguins were able to kill it off, and the game remained 1-0. The middle period looked similar to game one, which was dominated by the Penguins. They lead 1-0 after 40 minutes and outshot the Thunderbirds 12-4 in the period.

Third Period

The two teams went back and forth to start the third, but the Penguins would add to their lead to make it 2-0. Bill Zonnon scored his third goal of the series as he continues to torment the Thunderbirds. The Penguins got a power play as Dean went to the box for hooking. Before the team killed off the penalty, officials called Gabe Klassen for goalie interference, making it 4-on-4.

Springfield after both penalties after the 4-on-4 was killed off would get on the board. Juraj Pekarcik slipped one past Murashov to make it 2-1. Less than a minute later, officials called Dylan Peterson for goalie interference, giving the Penguins another power play. The penalty was killed off, and Romanov was pulled for an extra attacker with 40 seconds left. The Thunderbirds would have chances in the final seconds, but the Penguins held on for a 2-1 victory in game three. The Thunderbirds outshot the Penguins 14-10 in the period.

Wrap Up

Romanov stopped 30 of the 32 shots he faced. Murashov stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced. Zonnon was the first star with his game-winning goal. McGroarty was the second star with his goal, and Pekarcik was the third star with his goal.

Next Up

Springfield and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton play game four on Thursday night at MassMutual Center. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Puck drop is set for 7:05 PM EST.