After going being swept in the previous weekend’s three-in-three, the Springfield Thunderbirds decided that they had had enough of losing this past weekend. With this mindset, they swept their opponents in this weekend’s set of three games in three days.
The Thunderbirds were able to do so by only allowing six goals the entire weekend. This time Springfield was not only able to defeat two Atlantic Division rivals, but it was also able to win two games on the road.
Game 1 – Springfield 5, Hartford 2
In the first game, on the road at the XL Center, the Thunderbirds were facing off again with their opponent night foe, and I-91 Rival, the Hartford Wolf Pack and they were able to get on the board first thanks to a goal by Adam Gaudette – one of two on the night. The two goals pushed his season total to seven on the year.
Springfield became the first team of the season to solve Wolf Pack goaltender Louis Domingue, becoming the first team all year to score more than two goals on veteran netminder. While on the other side of the ice Thunderbirds goaltender Vadim Zherenko picked up his second win of the season.
Zherenko finished with 37 saves, his best performance of the year. He has now stopped 106 of the 113 shots he has faced, giving him a .938 SV%.
Game 2 – Springfield 5, Providence 2
The second game may have ended with the same score as the first game, but it had a much more profound meaning to it as Springfield got on the board with three first period goals over the Providence Bruins: one from Gaudette, one Mackenzie MacEachern, and Nathan Walker.
Gaudette scored again later in the game, giving him a league-leading nine tallies through six games. Walker’s tally increased his total to four on the season.
In goal, Malcolm Subban, picked up his first win as a Thunderbird – making 30 saves in the process. According to an interview with MassLive.com’s Brendan Rooney, head coach Drew Bannister was very impressed with his netminder’s performance.
Game 3 – Springfield 3, Providence 2 (OT)
In Springfield’s third game of the weekend, things didn’t seem to fare too well as the Bruins took the first lead in the second period.
Unfortunately for Gaudette, his points streak ended on Sunday against Providence, but his guy’s winning ways did not as they tied it up twice in the third period before winning it in overtime, courtesy of a goal by Dylan Coghlan, who was recently sent back down to Springfield by Carolina.
In the game Zherenko got the start in net and finished with 25 saves. Perhaps more importantly though, he picked up his second win on the weekend, and third on the season.
What’s next for Springfield?
Springfield’s next game is on Friday, November 3, when they face their first North Division opponent of the season when they welcome the Belleville Senators to the MassMutual Center. Puck drop in Springfield, is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
