Chirps from Center Ice

         vs.        

4                               3

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I still like my chances in this series.

Despite a 3-0 lead after two periods, the Springfield Thunderbirds mount a furious third period comeback with a shorthanded goal at :55 and two extra attacker goals within a span of 1:34 late in the period to force overtime and it’s Akil Thomas’ fluke goal that goes off the end wall and off of Sergei Murashov and in to give the visiting Springfield Thunderbirds a 4-3 overtime win to tie this Best of Five Series at a game a piece with Game 3 ready to go Tuesday in Springfield.

That all said, I am off till Tuesday going camping and my weekend is ruined already.

It’s 11:10 p.m. on a Thursday, let’s see how quick we can get through this…

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Lineup Notes: Raivis Ansons for Boko Imama on the fourth line was it.

First Period: Wilkes-Barre withstands a Springfield push to open, but then the floodgates open and Bill Zonnon scores his second goal in as many games on a power play at 8:32 and the Penguins were off and running….

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That was about as orchestrated a power play that I have witnessed in some time.

Shots ended 14-4 Penguins in the period. Officials missed Gabe Klassen getting busted open with a high stick but the very next shift call another high sticking penalty that put the Penguins on the power play that gave them the lead.

Second Period: They absolutely dominated the Thunderbirds from top to bottom, left to right and side to side.

:16 into the frame, Tristan Broz scores here to double the Penguins lead….

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More tomfoolery from referees Liam Maaskant and Austin Rook, who I thought were average at best, missing a blatant trip on Springfield on one side, but calling Joona Koppanen for a blatant one on our side.

But they navigated clean to even strength again, go back on the power play and Avery Hayes scores to make it 3-0.

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Shots were 30-14. Write it how you want, it was one way traffic. The Penguins could do no wrong and Springfield couldn’t do anything. At five a side they were getting throttled. Two power play goals in your nets? Short series, buddy.

Third Period: But that’s what the casuals think.

Dillon Dube is whistled for delay of game at :31. Penguins power play. Get another one here and bury them.

Nope.

Hugh McGing, at :55, shorthanded.

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Shorthanded goals and the inability to say the word die is what Springfield Thunderbirds hockey is about in these Calder Cup Playoffs.

But they persisted, persisted, persisted and persisted some more until Head Coach Steve Ott summoned Georgii Romanov to the bench with 3:42 left. Vibes told me why not, they were hemming in the Penguins the whole period. Shots? Try 20-8 for the Thunderbirds in the period.

They score. Not one, but two. Same guy, too. Dillon Dube.

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I thank the Springfield media team for the economy tweet there showing both extra attacker goals.

It was off to…

Overtime: Didn’t like the vibes. Felt like they were shellshocked and just holding on. Shots 11-4 for Springfield here until Akil Thomas gets sprung on a breakaway, shoots, misses the net, but the hard shot caroms off the back boards back off of Murashov and in.

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A penalty was being called there, so if they fluke goal didn’t beat them, the power play most likely would have.

Three Stars: 3) Mikhail Ilyin (two assists) 2) Dillon Dube (two extra attacker goals) 1) Akil Thomas (game winning overtime goal)

The Good: Well, the first forty minutes we looked like a special team that couldn’t be stopped.

The Bad: Outshot 31-12 in the third period and overtime against a team that doesn’t know any better, probably doesn’t belong, but has home ice now and a 1-1 series heading back for a pivotal Game 3 Tuesday.

Turning Point: The shorthanded goal by Hugh McGing lit the fuse that propelled the Thunderbirds to this improbable comeback, considering how the first two periods went.

Ice Chips: I know I am writing these words for casuals who will never read them, but for the love of god your team is clinging to a 3-1 lead late in the third and you idiots want to start the wave? Like, what the hell? Is this your first hockey game? (yes, probably)

But that’s the dope in me that has never won the big one telling people who bought the ticket I didn’t pay for how to act.

Video Highlights: 

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Is it Tuesday yet? No? Just 11:30 p.m. when this goes up? Damn, I type fast.

Let’s Go Pens!