The Springfield Thunderbirds could not protect its house this weekend, losing back-to-back games to the Hartford Wolf Pack and Laval Rocket at MassMutual Center and falling to fifth place in the AHL’s Atlantic Division.
On Friday, the Wolf Pack overcame a one-goal deficit in the first period with the game’s last four goals to post a 5-2 win over the Thunderbirds. Henrik Borgstrom opened the scoring and Anthony Greco put Springfield on top 2-1, but that was all the offense they could muster. Dryden Hunt, Joel Lowry, Kevin Roy and goaltender Sam Montembeault collected assists. Montembeault finished the game with 28 saves on 33 shots.
The Thunderbirds held a 3-1 lead after forty minutes on Saturday night, but the Rocket ignited and scored three times in the third period to steal a 4-3 decision. Daniel Audette, Thomas Schemitsch and Dryden Hunt each produced a goal and an assist. Blaine Byron, Joel Lowry and Anthony Greco picked up helpers. Philippe Desrosiers stopped 26 shots and took the loss in net.
Springfield is now 14-13 on the season and one point behind the Hershey Bears for a playoff spot.
In ECHL action, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits split a weekend set with the Norfolk Admirals at the Norfolk Scope in Virginia.
Ryan Bednard stopped 23 of 26 shots faced in a 4-1 defeat on Friday night.
The Swamp Rabbits rebounded on Saturday to post a 3-2 victory. Springfield prospect Liam Pecararo scored Greenville’s first goal to knot the score at one apiece.
Greenville is currently 12-10-0-1 and in third place in the South Division.