Springfield Thunderbirds Season Thread

[theohall]

Lindgren in net tonight... so Ellis should play tomorrow. Lucky you, Glen.

[theohall]

Anas 1st goal of season - OT game winner - T-Birds win 3-2. Perunovich with 3 assists. 1 PP assist, 1 assist 2 seconds after PP ended, last assist in OT. Lindgren kept them in this game - outshot 34-22.

The old nine of hearts from Anas.


Perunovich is 2nd in the AHL in scoring, 1 point out of 1st overall. This is unheard of for a rookie AHL defenseman. It just hasn't happened. At least not in the past 25 years. Trying to check AHL history past that point is really difficult.

Given what Armstrong said today about bonuses tied to Perunovich's contract, I doubt he gets recalled this season, unless a defenseman goes on LTIR.

[glen a richter]

Hoping for a huge, decisive non-OT win. I’m not concerned about missing the 10:15 ferry because I’m sure they hold it for OT games but it’s a goddam 1 hour ride across the sound. I’ve taken this ferry twice before and they don’t go over about 7 knots the entire trip across. Slowest boat ever.

[theohall]

Despite the long ride home, enjoy the game!!

[theohall]

Glen picked the right game. Up 3-0 within the first 5 minutes of the 1st period and Perunovich extended his point streak to 8 games with an assist on the 3rd goal.

[theohall]

Fantastic keep in by Perunovich leading to his league leading 15th point and 2nd assist of the game. Up to 15 points in his first 8 games. If manages one more point tonight, he's on a 2 points per game pace. Great shot by Peca.

[glen a richter]

Solid solid effort, Perunovich looked great, Ellis did what he had to do. The only goal for Bridgeport I doubt he could have stopped. Aside from bing, bang, boom up 3-0 and then only 1 more the rest of the way I expected it to be about 9-0 the way they started.

First goal had to be reviewed, they played on another 40 or so seconds so free hockey when they rewound the clock! Logan Brown is a big boy, if he used his body he’d be a major factor on the big club.

[theohall]

Logan Brown is a big boy, if he used his body he’d be a major factor on the big club.

Glad you got to see a good game. That quote - this has been the concern with Brown from the get-go. He's a big boy, but he hasn't consistently used that size. Which led to him not making an Ottawa flipping Senators roster.

[glen a richter]

I did like the chippiness at the end of the 2nd period. Wesley's fighting penalty was somewhat lame, I get it but he got beaten pretty decisively. The douche on Bridgeport was still going after him while he was sitting on the ice cowering like he was terrified of getting killed.

My perception of Islander fans hasn't changed much, they're still dicks. The one behind me was making fun of Sam Anas's name (haha, Anus passed the puck!) and during the fracas with Wesley, Joshua and whoever the Bridgeport captain was they were vehemently going after Wesley because of the way he was covering up his face trying not to get physically destroyed. Dudes, your team is down 4-1 FFS, maybe you should worry about how bad they look overall and not about how a career minor leaguer decisively lost a fight.

As a somewhat aside, I wasn't paying too close attention during lineup intros and it took me half the game to realize the Bridgeport goalie was Cory Schneider. I commented about how bad he was early on and "this kid will probably never make the NHL playing the way he is." Whoops.

[theohall]

Springfield lost in regulation for the first time this season, losing 5-3 to Hershey. Penalties were the issue today. Perunovich took a very late penalty in the 3rd which led to Hershey's 4th goal with less than 3 minutes to play. 5th goal was an empty netter.

Perunovich had a PP assist extending his point streak to 9 consecutive games. Still leads the AHL with 16 points.

That's funny about Corey Schneider.

[theohall]

T-Birds win 4-1. Perunovich extended his point streak 10 to games with another assist continuing to lead the AHL in scoring with 2 G and 15 A.

[theohall]

And Toropchenko scores 20 seconds in tonight, setting the record for fastest opening goal in T-Birds history.

[theohall]

6-4 loss. T-Birds had a really bad 2nd period. Perunovich extended his point streak with an assist on the T-Birds 4th goal in the final minute of the 3rd period. Listening to the game, this wasn't Scorin Scott's best.

[theohall]

T-Birds win 2-1 in OT over Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Perunovich adds two more assists extending his point streak to 12 games with 2 G, league leading 18 A, and league leading 20 points.

[theohall]

While Perunovich got recalled, still going to continues this thread, because Drew Bannister has gotten this team playing so well together. The Sam Anas interview on T-Birds talk was excellent. One of the things he mentioned is no matter whose up, whose down, whose in, whose out, whatever - everyone is treated the same - and it's resulted in a great locker room.

Anyway - T-Birds won 5-4 in a SO Friday night vs the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins after being down 3-0 in the first period. Toropchenko had a 2 goal night and has been playing outstanding hockey. He and MacEachern every game are the line opponents don't want to play against and about 5 games ago, the line started scoring. I could easily see Toropchenko taking Neal's place next season. Heck, he's only 22. But he is not a center and the Blues value that more than anything to add flexibility to their lines. For comparison's sake, Joshua is 25 and didn't get a shot until last season.

[glen a richter]

Toropchenko could definitely fit on a bottom 6 next season if he continues to have a good year.

Not currently in the AHL but definitely someone to not sleep on, Tanner Dickinson is taking strides this year and by all accounts his speed is his greatest asset. If he can step into Springfield next season and show continued growth he could look real good centering for Kyrou down the road.

[theohall]

Dickinson will probably get another year in juniors as an "over-ager" since he has a March birthday. Considering the only Blues center not under contract for next season is Bozak, making the Blues next season will still be tough. If he doesn't stay in juniors, he'll definitely make the AHL squad. He's putting up similar numbers to Bolduc - 17 GP, 6 G, 7A - 3rd on the Soo Greyhounds (11th overall in the OHL) in scoring and +12... seriously? + 12 in Juniors? That's crazy good for a center. Greyhounds are 1st in their division, 2nd in Conference. I'll add them to the Prospect thread updates.

[theohall]

Shot chart from tonight's 2-1 win over Bridgeport. Goals from McGing (PPG) and Walker. Assists to Anas, Stevens, and Brown. This is a good example of protecting your house while putting really good pressure on the opponent.

[theohall]

T-Birds went down 2-1 in the 1st minute of the 3rd period, then responded with 4 unanswered goals to win 5-2.

Scoring was Walker from Brown and Tucker, Peca from McGing and Tucker, a PPG by Laferriere (1st AHL goal) from Brown and Cross, Keenan Washkurak from Tucker and Santini on an end to end rush, and a 2nd from Walker into an empty net goal. Nice for Tucker with 3 assists and Laferriere's first being a GWG.

Ended a perfect 6 point weekend for Springfield.

[theohall]

T-Birds beat beat the Bridgeport Islanders again - 4-1 - outshooting them 48-19. The 4 goals were all scored in the 2nd period in a span of 3:53 just after the 6 minute mark. Lindgern lost the shutout in the final 2 minutes with Bridgeport on the PP. All were even strength goals as the T-Birds failed to connect on any of their 7 power playrs.

Goals:
Wesley from Brown and Walker
Brown from Walker and Rosen (4-on-4 goal)
McGing from Peca and Rosen
MacEachern from Toropchenko and Tucker.