The Springfield Thunderbirds shook off an early one-goal deficit and rolled to a 4-1 win over the visiting Hartford Wolf Pack Friday night at MassMutual Center.
After Ryan Gropp beat Philippe Desrosiers 3:55 into the game, Jack Rodewald and Paul Thompson scored two minutes apart later in the frame to give the Thunderbirds the lead.
Will Lochead and Matt Mangene got the assists on Rodewald’s fifth and Daniel Audette and Danick Martel collected the helpers on Thompson’s 12th of the season.
Martel, making his Springfield debut after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Lighting, would score an unassisted empty-net goal with 1:16 remaining in the game.
Aleksi Heponiemi notched his second of the season late in the second period, from Ethan Prow and Brady Keeper, to put the T-Birds up by a 3-1 count.
Desrosiers stopped 36 shots to backstop Springfield to the win which pulled them within two points of fourth place Charlotte.
For those wondering, Owen Tippett did not play in last night’s game.
The Thunderbirds will visit the Providence Bruins tonight and host the Syracuse Crunch on Sunday.