AHL Game Recap: Springfield Takes Game One

The Springfield Thunderbirds and Providence Bruins started their best-of-five series tonight at Amica Mutual Pavilion. The Thunderbirds entered the series coming off an upset series win over the Charlotte Checkers. They won the second and third games after losing the first game. Providence is coming off having a first-round bye. Georgi Romanov got the start for Springfield after he helped lead the Thunderbirds back in the first round series. In the playoffs, he is 2-0-0 with a 1.34 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage. Michael DiPietro was the MVP of the AHL, along with the goalie of the year. In the regular season, he went 34-8-1 with a 1.91 goals-against average, a .930 save percentage, and three shutouts.

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Springfield Thunderbirds vs. Providence Bruins

First Period

Springfield registered the first shot on goal of the game and, for the first two minutes, had most of the control of the puck. Providence would strike first as Drew Callin, in his first game with Providence after spending the season with Worcester in the ECHL, scored to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. It was a bad-angle shot that hit Romanov and found a way to trickle in between his legs. Following the goal, Romanov made some big stops to keep it a one-goal game.

Springfield got the first power play of the game as Frederic Brunet went to the box for holding. With 19 seconds left on the man advantage, Springfield got a 5-on-3 with Ty Gallagher going for tripping. The first penalty was killed off when beautiful passing by the Thunderbirds tied the game up at 1-1. Dillon Dube passed to Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, who hit Akil Thomas, and Thomas put it past DiPietro. The period ended tied with Springfield outshooting Providence 11-5.

Second Period 

Springfield got another power play opportunity, and just as that expired, the Thunderbirds took the lead as Thomas Bordeleau beat DiPietro to make it 2-1. It took 12 seconds for Providence to get a power play with Jakub Stancl going to the box for interference. They were unable to convert, and Providence then went to the box, giving Springfield another power play. Thirty seconds into the power play, Thunderbirds defenseman Calle Rosen sustained an injury, and officials helped him off the ice. Just before the halfway point of the middle period, referees called penalties on both teams, sending Dylan Peterson from Springfield and Gallagher from Providence off for roughing. Springfield dominated the final ten minutes of the period and led 2-1. Both teams had eight shots on goal in the period.

Third Period

In the final period, each team had a shot on goal in the first two minutes. Springfield would add to their lead as Peterson scored just over three minutes in to make it 3-1. Springfield got a power-play chance just over 6.5 minutes into the period. Providence was able to kill it off. Things escalated with under eight minutes left as Navrin Mutter and Alexis Gendron went to the box for Providence, Mutter for boarding and Gendron for roughing. Wyatt Newpower went for Springfield for roughing, but the Thunderbirds had a 4-on-3. They couldn’t convert, and the game remained 3-1.

Providence got a later power-play as Otto Stenberg went to the box for holding. The Bruins would make it a one-goal game as Matej Blumel put home a Romanov rebound to make it 3-2. Providence was unable to tie it up, and Springfield took game one 3-2. The Bruins outshot them 3-2 in the third.

Wrap Up

Romanov stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced. DiPietro stopped 23 of the 26 shots he faced. Bordeleau was the first star with his goal. Peterson was the second star, and Thomas was the third star.

Next Up

The next game will be on Sunday at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Puck drop is set for 7:05 PM EST.