SPRINGFIELD – An early deficit proved insurmountable for the Springfield Thunderbirds in their season opener on Saturday night. In front of a raucous sellout crowd, the Thunderbirds fell to the Charlotte Checkers, 4-3.
The fans did not have much time to stay rowdy when the Checkers scored 19 seconds into the game and eventually led 3-0 in the first period. But the Thunderbirds pulled together and got to within one goal on two separate occasions but could not get the equalizer.
“There was no quit, for sure,” Thunderbirds coach Steve Konowalchuk said. “The energy and enthusiasm were there. A lot of energy throughout the game.”
With their net empty and trailing, 4-2, the Thunderbirds made a charge at tying the game in the final minutes. A Juraj Pekarcik slapper beat Charlotte goalie Cooper Black at 18:23 of the third period. It was Pekarcik’s first professional goal.
“The guys battled,” Konowalchuk said. “They were a shot away from tying it up. That’s the positive. There was some good skating, some good speed at times. I liked the way we moved the puck.”
With eight seconds left, the Thunderbirds called timeout with a faceoff in Charlotte’s offensive zone. After the face-off, the puck moved toward the boards, allowing Charlotte to escape with the win.
“I thought we played a little away from the puck,” Konowalchuk said. “When our linemates were battling for it. When you are playing Charlotte you better be ready to grind it out.”
Vadim Zherenko made 32 saves for the Thunderbirds. The Buffalo Sabers claimed Colten Ellis, last year’s starting goalie, off waivers. Zherenko had to deal with multiple power play opportunities and some strange bounces, but his play kept the Thunderbirds close in the game.
“That second half of the game he settled right in and played good,” Konowalchuk said. “That’s good mental makeup for him.”
This season is the Thunderbirds’ tenth in Springfield. On Saturday night, a tribute video played reminiscing about the organization’s first decade in the city, highlighting the ups along with celebrating the growing fanbase in Springfield.
“The crowd was great,” Konowalchuk said. “It’s loud, it’s fun. It’s always a fun building.”
The Thunderbirds went 0-for-4 on the power play and allowed two power play goals on six opportunities for the Checkers.
“We have some guys there that can move it around and have some skill,” Konowalchuk said. “We have to get a little bit more in sync to where breakouts are a little cleaner. We’ll go to work there.”
The Thunderbirds do not play again until Oct. 18th at the Hershey Bears. Their next game at MassMutual is Oct. 25th against the Hartford Wolf Pack.
“It will be nice to get on the road,” Konowalchuk said. “For our guys to get going. I think again here early it was a little bit jittery with our guys.”
The early score came on a typical play of a Florida Panthers’ affiliate. An aggressive forecheck allowed the puck to dribble into the crease from behind the net. Jack Studnicka poked it past Zherenko for the early 1-0 lead for the Checkers.
Charlotte scored again midway through the period on the power play. After a series of wild saves by Zherenko, Ryan McAllister found Ben Steeves for a one-timer to make the score 2-0. Ludvig Jansson scored later in the period to give Charlotte a 3-0 lead.
The Thunderbirds then scored twice to get back into the game. Otto Stenberg knocked in a rebound to get Springfield on the scoreboard. Matt Luff then knocked in a loose puck around the net to cut the Charlotte lead to 3-2 at 16:10 of the first period.
Charlotte scored on the power play early in the second period. Trevor Carrick found Jack Devine for another one-timer to increase Charlotte’s lead to 4-2.
Hunter Skinner, Corey Schueneman, Dylan Peterson, Theo Lindstein, Nikita Alexandrov and Aleksanteri Kaskimaki had assists for the Thunderbirds.
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