AHL Game Recap: Thunderbirds Avenge Robertsson, but Lose to Marlies for Fourth Straight Loss

The Springfield Thunderbirds continue their road trip tonight with the fourth game of their six-game trip as they face the Toronto Marlies this afternoon. Springfield is still searching for their first win on the trip, having been outscored 12-3 in the first three games. The Thunderbirds are coming off a 4-0 loss to the Americans last night. The Marlies are coming off their third straight loss last night, 3-2 in a shootout to Cleveland. Despite the skid, they entered today’s game on a seven-game point streak. Vadim Zherenko got the start for the Thunderbirds, bringing a 10-11-3 record with a 3.12 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. Artur Akhtyamov got the net for the Marlies; he is 15-7-3 with a 2.99 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage.

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Springfield Thunderbirds vs. Toronto Marlies

First Period 

Right off the opening faceoff, Kale Kessy and Marshall Rifai dropped the gloves. It comes after the last time these two teams met, and Simon Robertsson was injured after additional punches were thrown by Rifai back in that last meeting. Robertsson hasn’t played since then. Dylan Peterson and Henry Thrun dropped the gloves immediately after that fight ended. On the very next faceoff, all chaos ensued as Blake Smith went for any Thunderbird who wanted to fight. Each team was handed a penalty as the refs tried to settle things down. Smith was handed a fight for fighting and a ten-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Springfield was handed a roughing penalty on Hunter Skinner, and 57 seconds after the penalties, Vinni Lettieri gave Toronto a 1-0 lead. It was Lettieri’s 11th of the season.

Springfield started to outshoot Toronto 9-1. Then the two traded shots before former Thunderbird and Marlies captain Logan Shaw scored his 15th of the season. Less than two minutes after the Shaw goal, the Marlies added to the lead as Michael Pezzetta scored his third of the season. That would do it for Zherenko as Georgi Romanov came in. Springfield would then go on the power play with Matthew Barbolini going to the box for hooking. Toronto would kill off the penalty, with the Thunderbirds only recording two shots on goal. The chaotic first period came to an end with Toronto leading 3-0 despite being outshot 15-5.

Second Period 

The middle period saw Springfield get a power play just one minute in as Jacob Quillan got a penalty for tripping. Quillan had a chance out of the box but lost his handle on the puck. The two teams traded chances before Toronto went on the power play with Hunter Skinner going to the box for cross-checking. Springfield was able to kill off the penalty. Toronto continued to pressure Romanov, but he kept the puck out and kept the Thunderbirds in the game. Springfield got another power play chance with Barbolini going to the box again, this time for slashing. Toronto killed off the penalty. Just before the period came to a close, the Thunderbirds finally got on the board as Calle Rosen slapped home a bouncing puck that came from behind the back of the net. It was his sixth goal of the season, and he made it 3-1 after two. Toronto outshot Springfield 14-11 in the middle period.

Third Period

The Marlies came out dominating the start of the third with eight straight shots on goal before Springfield had their first which took over nine minutes to register. Springfield had a chance to cut the lead to one but couldn’t get the puck into the net. They would go on the penalty kill as Aleksanteri Kaskimaki went to the box for holding. Luke Haymes would convert on the man advantage for Toronto. He scored his seventh goal of the season.  Each team would take matching penalties shortly after with Pezzetta and Kessy going to the box for roughing. Benoit-Olivier Groulx added another goal for Toronto. It was his 21st of the season. Toronto got another power play as Quinton Burns went to the box for cross-checking. Toronto outshot Springfield 14-4 in the final period as they secured the 5-1 victory.

Wrap Up

Zherenko stopped just two of the five shots he faced before giving way to Romanov, who stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced. Akhtyamov stopped 29 of the 30 shots he faced, finishing as the second star. Groulx with a goal and two assists was the first star. Rifai was the third star.

Next Up

The All-Star break is here with the skills competition on Tuesday and the game on Wednesday. Springfield continues their road trip when they return with two games against the Iowa Wild. Friday’s game is at 7:00 PM CST, with Saturday’s at 6:00 PM CST. Toronto on Saturday will face the Laval Rocket on the road, with puck drop set for 3:00 PM EST.

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