After posting a 4-2 road win over Hartford on Wednesday, the visiting Springfield Thunderbirds fell by a 6-5 count to the St. John’s IceCaps on Friday night in Newfoundland. The teams will face-off again tonight at Mile One Centre.
Charles Hudon and Joel Hanley scored in a 54 second span early in the first period to give the IceCaps a 2-0 lead.
Springfield countered with Anthony Greco converting from Ryan Horvat at 11:53 and Eric Robinson notching his first of the year with the lone assist going to Stephen MacAulay at 15:14.
The tie only lasted 14 seconds as Chris Terry beat Mike McKenna to put St. John’s back on top.
The Thunderbirds took a brief lead in the second period on goals from rookie Dryden Hunt and Horvat.
Hunt’s goal came on a power play with Chase Balisy getting the only assist at 6:19. Horvat scored exactly nine minutes later with the helpers awarded to Jared McCann and Ed Wittchow.
Max Friberg lit the lamp 1:14 after Horvat’s marker to forge a 4-4 tie heading to the third.
Shane Harper scored at the 9:27 mark to give Springfield a second go with the lead. Harper’s fourth was set up by Sena Acolatse and Mike Sgarbossa.
Unfortunately, the Thunderbirds allowed St. John’s to quickly strike back again.
Michael McCarron evened the game 1:14 after Harper’s goal and Stefan Matteau bagged the eventual winner just 38 seconds after that.
McKenna finished the game with 32 saves while Yann Denis made 25 stops for the IceCaps.