Thunderbirds defeat P-Bruins in opening game of first-round series

PROVIDENCE, R.I.– The Springfield Thunderbirds got a fast start in the opening period and then rode their star netminder to a 2-1 triumph over the Providence Bruins on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division’s First Round.

Springfield now has the opportunity to punch its ticket to the Atlantic Department semifinals with a win on home ice Friday night at 7:05 p.m.

. The T-Birds lost little time asserting themselves in the offensive zone in the opening minutes. In their first Calder Cup playoff games, Dalibor Dvorsky and Zach Dean instantly impacted as Dvorsky skated across the Bruin line and dropped a pass off to Dean.

Cutting to his backhand, Dean lifted a backhander that averted Michael DiPietro’s blocker and broke the ice for a 1-0 T-Birds lead at 6:32 of the first.Four minutes later on, one of the T-Birds’unsung heroes of the routine season contributed to his great season as Matt Luff, in his first game back since March 28, banked a shot off DiPietro from the bottom of the best circle to extend the cause 2-0. Matthew Peca got the lone helper.Unsurprisingly, the Bruins pressed

back greatly to begin the middle period. After drawing a four-minute power play for a high stick, Providence’s third-ranked power play went to work, and Oliver Wahlstrom polished up a rebound at 3:44 after Riley Tufte’s preliminary breakaway glanced off the post behind Colten Ellis. With the lead down to a single tally,

the Bruins let fly with an unrelenting attack on the T-Birds internet on a night where they would end up with a 40-15 lead in the shot department. Nevertheless, Ellis, who was 5-1 in

six starts against the Bruins throughout the routine season, refused to offer in.The onslaught of offense carried into a remarkable third period, and the game took on another tense minute when a second four-minute power play set the Bruins up for a chance to connect with under nine minutes staying. Steve Konowalchuk’s man-down unit sold out in obstructing shots, congesting passing lanes, and keeping the red-hot Providence power play from finding an equalizer, with Ellis making a bevy of stops at point-blank variety. The Bruins’resurgence effort became more tough when they were shorthanded with 1:02 to

play. In spite of that, they pulled DiPietro to get the workforce back to 5-on-5. The Springfield defense locked all windows to the internet and made it through to leave Providence with the one-goal victory.The T-Birds

will now seek to punch their ticket to the Atlantic Division Semifinals on Friday night in Game 2 as the 2 groups reconvene at the MassMutual Center for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop, while the Bruins will want to force a definitive Game 3 on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. in Providence. Must the T-Birds leave victorious in either game, they will wait for an Atlantic Department semifinal match versus the two-time safeguarding

Calder Cup champ Hershey Bears.Those who can not go to Friday’s Video game 2 can watch the game on AHLTV powered by FloHockey or listen on NewsRadio 560 WHYN.Fans can get their Thunderbirds tickets for the Calder Cup playoff push today by calling( 413)739-GOAL( 4625)or by checking out www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.