Frk’s Two Goals Propel T-Birds To Victory Over Isles

SPRINGFIELD, MA – Coming into Friday night’s contest against the Bridgeport Islanders, the Springfield Thunderbirds were riding high after winning four out of their last five, including one against their opponents Friday night on December 30th.

After three periods play, the score was deadlocked at three goals apiece. After the halfway point of overtime passed, it was still tied, but after three minutes and 47 seconds, Martin Frk took a pass from Matthew Kessel, weaved through a crowd of Islanders defenders and wristed it to the back of the net, giving the Thunderbirds a 4-3 overtime victory – their third victory of that variety in the 2022-23 season.

The goal was Frk’s fourth in his last two games the Isles, and sixth point in his last five games.

“[It] wasn’t an ideal way to win the game, giving up a 3-1 lead going into the third period, but it’s an important two points,” head coach Drew Bannister said.

Early on in the game, Will Bitten was called for hooking, but Springfield (15-13-1-4) killed it off easily without allowing a shot on goal. Eight minutes later, Bridgeport (14-12-6-1) was back on the man-advantage. This time they managed to accrue two shots on goal, but nothing found the back of the net.

With 7:40 left to play in the first period, Bitten broke into the offensive zone behind a typically Islanders’ defense on a breakaway and took a wrist shot on the stick side of goaltender Ken Appleby who swiftly turned it away, preserving the scoreless tie.

Despite the first period looking pretty even on paper with Bridgeport and Springfield accruing 10 shots, and nine shots, respectively, Bannister appeared indifferent to his teams performance in the first period.

“I was happy with our performance,” Bannister said. “There wasn’t too much going on in the first period. I thought that both teams were pretty patient, and we had a good second period.”

And much like the two teams previous meeting on December 30th, the second period was full of goals. The Thunderbirds were able to score three goals, to the Islanders one.

The first goal came on the power play off a slapshot by Frk at the point, his first of the game. Just under four minutes later, Kyle MacLean tied it up for Bridgeport, but Springfield swung right back with Keean Washkurak, and Steven Jandric both scoring their first goals of the season – making it 3-1.

In the third period, the Islanders tied it up with two goals – the first coming from a tip-in from short range by William Dufour, and the other on a one-time slap shot by Chris Terry on the power play after the T-Birds were called for too many men on the ice.

In net, Joel Hofer made 31 saves in the winning effort – his third most saves against the Isles this season. The win also gives Springfield a 5-2 record head-to-head this season vs. Bridgeport.

The Thunderbirds are back in action on Saturday night where they take on the Utica Comets – puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.