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SPRINGFIELD — After making a two-goal comeback, the Springfield Thunderbirds couldn’t fight back against the Charlotte Checkers, falling 4-2 on Friday night.
Mistakes were the story of the game as the Thunderbirds struggled to string together offense through 37 minutes of play. On a 4-on-4 after Hugh McGing and Matt Kierstad were sent to the box, Springfield found its first sign of offense.
Hunter Skinner sent a pass to Dalibor Dvorsky who skated near the face-off dot to send a wrist shot on goaltender Kaapo Kähkönen. With the shot going by the goaltender with less than three minutes left in the second period, the Thunderbirds found their first sign of hope in the game.
The goal placed Dvorsky at fifth in goals among American Hockey League rookies, netting 21 goals throughout the regular season. Friday marked the rookie’s first game back after being up with the St Louis Blues.
“I think he’s got a little more confidence going up [to the Blues] and practicing with those guys,” Thunderbirds head coach Steve Konowalchuk said about Dvorsky. “… I think he’s holding onto the puck better and has confidence when he’s shooting it and making plays.”
Charlotte also grabbed a goal early in the second period after putting up a strong offensive performance throughout the two periods. With less than six minutes played in the period, Kiersted shot the puck from the blue line through traffic. Goaltender Colten Ellis allowed a rebound that Oliver Okuliar was there to clean up as Ellis tried to dive to cover the puck.
In the third period, it was Zach Dean who tied up the game for the Thunderbirds after Springfield came out strong. Otto Stenberg puck handled towards the net with Dean on his right. Stenberg tapped the puck to Dean, not allowing Kahkonen time to react, allowing him for an easy tap in.
The goal marks Dean’s first goal back from injury after he played just nine games during the season.
“He played good, he played solid and played with pace,” Konowalchuk said on Dean. “He was good [on Friday] for missing a lot of [time]. He was also good anyway, but he also missed a lot of time. To be able to come back and play like that was good for him.”
While momentum was in the Thunderbirds’ favor, the Checkers answered back just over five minutes later on an Okuliar lamp-lighter.
Despite at a point being on a 6-on-3, Charlotte’s empty-netter cemented a win. While the Thunderbirds fell to the Checkers, there were still positives to take away.
“It’s good we’re playing one of the top teams going in the playoffs, so you’ve gotta be sharp.” Konowalchuk said. “Obviously all the teams in playoffs are good so it’s nice to have a top team like that you’ve gotta play good and hard against.”
With the Checkers having the offensive upper hand in the first period, they got on the board first to open the game.
With 7:23 gone in the period, Kyle Criscuolo exited the neutral zone and retrieved the puck as Leo Lööf skated behind him. Criscuolo with no player in front of him popped it by goaltender Colten Ellis for a 1-0 Charlotte lead.
The Checkers controlled the game for the first period, outshooting the Thunderbirds 11-7. Springfield grabbed a power play on a Okuliar slashing penalty. Despite the man advantage, the Thunderbirds power play struggled, turning over the puck early in the two minutes.
With Springfield’s power play struggling all season, the Thunderbirds couldn’t convert on the man advantage or the 4-on-4 after a John Leonard and Calen Addison fight near the corner of the ice.
The Thunderbirds will look for revenge in their last regular season game against the Checkers on Saturday, April 19. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.
“Last game of the year, you want to make sure you’re doing things right, winning hockey,” Checker head coach Geordie Kinnear said.
Continue reading...
Mistakes were the story of the game as the Thunderbirds struggled to string together offense through 37 minutes of play. On a 4-on-4 after Hugh McGing and Matt Kierstad were sent to the box, Springfield found its first sign of offense.
Hunter Skinner sent a pass to Dalibor Dvorsky who skated near the face-off dot to send a wrist shot on goaltender Kaapo Kähkönen. With the shot going by the goaltender with less than three minutes left in the second period, the Thunderbirds found their first sign of hope in the game.
The goal placed Dvorsky at fifth in goals among American Hockey League rookies, netting 21 goals throughout the regular season. Friday marked the rookie’s first game back after being up with the St Louis Blues.
“I think he’s got a little more confidence going up [to the Blues] and practicing with those guys,” Thunderbirds head coach Steve Konowalchuk said about Dvorsky. “… I think he’s holding onto the puck better and has confidence when he’s shooting it and making plays.”
Charlotte also grabbed a goal early in the second period after putting up a strong offensive performance throughout the two periods. With less than six minutes played in the period, Kiersted shot the puck from the blue line through traffic. Goaltender Colten Ellis allowed a rebound that Oliver Okuliar was there to clean up as Ellis tried to dive to cover the puck.
In the third period, it was Zach Dean who tied up the game for the Thunderbirds after Springfield came out strong. Otto Stenberg puck handled towards the net with Dean on his right. Stenberg tapped the puck to Dean, not allowing Kahkonen time to react, allowing him for an easy tap in.
The goal marks Dean’s first goal back from injury after he played just nine games during the season.
“He played good, he played solid and played with pace,” Konowalchuk said on Dean. “He was good [on Friday] for missing a lot of [time]. He was also good anyway, but he also missed a lot of time. To be able to come back and play like that was good for him.”
While momentum was in the Thunderbirds’ favor, the Checkers answered back just over five minutes later on an Okuliar lamp-lighter.
Despite at a point being on a 6-on-3, Charlotte’s empty-netter cemented a win. While the Thunderbirds fell to the Checkers, there were still positives to take away.
“It’s good we’re playing one of the top teams going in the playoffs, so you’ve gotta be sharp.” Konowalchuk said. “Obviously all the teams in playoffs are good so it’s nice to have a top team like that you’ve gotta play good and hard against.”
With the Checkers having the offensive upper hand in the first period, they got on the board first to open the game.
With 7:23 gone in the period, Kyle Criscuolo exited the neutral zone and retrieved the puck as Leo Lööf skated behind him. Criscuolo with no player in front of him popped it by goaltender Colten Ellis for a 1-0 Charlotte lead.
The Checkers controlled the game for the first period, outshooting the Thunderbirds 11-7. Springfield grabbed a power play on a Okuliar slashing penalty. Despite the man advantage, the Thunderbirds power play struggled, turning over the puck early in the two minutes.
With Springfield’s power play struggling all season, the Thunderbirds couldn’t convert on the man advantage or the 4-on-4 after a John Leonard and Calen Addison fight near the corner of the ice.
The Thunderbirds will look for revenge in their last regular season game against the Checkers on Saturday, April 19. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m.
“Last game of the year, you want to make sure you’re doing things right, winning hockey,” Checker head coach Geordie Kinnear said.
Continue reading...
