A typical game of hockey has three periods. However, last night between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Springfield Thunderbirds, it went to four, but still remained a three-part story.
Despite a dominating performance through forty minutes, the Penguins faltered late in the third period, eventually falling in overtime to the T-Birds, who tied the Atlantic Division Final series at a game apiece ahead of a shift to Springfield next Tuesday.
The Penguins began the scoring in the first period at 8:42, with Bill Zonnon tipping in a shot from Mikhail Ilyin to make it 1-0 on the power play. It was Zonnon’s second professional goal in as many games.
WBS scored again just 16 seconds into the second frame when Tristan Broz lit the lamp for the first time in this year’s playoffs.
18 minutes later, it was Avery Hayes’ turn as he found twine off a nice pass from Rutger McGroarty as the Penguins scored their second power play goal of the night.
After forty minutes it was 3-0 Penguins as they held a comfortable 30-14 lead on shots as well. However, tides were turning and the T-Birds came out for the third period on a heater.
Hugh McGing notched his second tally of the postseason under a minute into the final frame. The Thunderbirds continued to knock on the doorstep but were denied by Sergei Murashov.
But with its netminder pulled in the late stages of the game, Springfield scored twice off the stick of Dillon Dube to make it a 3-3 contest.
Fast forward to the overtime period, the Penguins had to hunker down as the T-Birds turned up the pressure. WBS had some chances to win the game, with Hayes and McGroarty being denied.
At 13:44 into the period, Akil Thomas found the game winning goal in a bizarre way.
After getting the puck from a pass in the neutral zone and turning on the jets, Thomas’ shot went well wide off the glass, but somehow deflected right off the back of Murashov and over the goal line–completing a Springfield comeback that stunned the fans at Mohegan Arena.
Ilyin led the Penguins with two points, picking up two assists. Murashov, despite getting the loss between the pipes was impressive yet again, making 41 saves for the Black and Gold.
Georgii Romanov picked up 39 saves, while Calle Rosen assisted on all three of Springfield’s third-period goals.
The series moves to Massachusetts next Tuesday, May 19 when the Pens and T-Birds faceoff at 7:05 p.m. from MassMutual Center.
Here are the other series in the Division Finals:
PACIFIC – Colorado leads Coachella Valley, 1-0 (Game Two on May 15)
CENTRAL – Chicago leads Grand Rapids, 1-0 (Game Two on May 16)
NORTH – Toronto leads Cleveland, 1-0 (Game Two on May 16)
Penguins-Thunderbirds Schedule:
May 12: WBS 2, SPR 0
May 14: WBS 3, SPR 4 (OT)
May 19: WBS @ SPR, 7:05 p.m.
May 21: WBS @ SPR, 7:05 p.m.
May 23: WBS vs. SPR, 6:05 p.m. (If Necessary)
