HARTFORD, Conn. – The Springfield Thunderbirds (25-20-2-0) answered an early two-goal deficit but succumbed to a third period burst from the Hartford Wolf Pack (26-10-4-5) on Friday night inside the XL Center.

The Wolf Pack entered with an 18-1-0-2 record inside the XL Center, and they quickly jumped to a two-goal lead after Ryan Dmowski fired home a rebound shot from the high slot at 9:25 to get his first AHL goal, quickly followed by Vinni Lettieri’s 19^th goal of the season on a one-time blast from the left circle at 11:47. Philippe Desrosiers kept Hartford from adding to the lead any further, stopping the final four Hartford shots in the period.

The Thunderbirds had to quickly pick themselves up off the mat after falling behind 2-0, and on their first power play, they cut the lead in half as Dryden Hunt scooped up a bouncing puck to the left of Wolf Pack goalie Adam Huska and pushed it into the back of the net off a hustling set-up from Aleksi Heponiemi in the slot area.

Springfield remained patient in their comeback bid, even as two more power plays came up empty in the late first period and early second, respectively. Desrosiers proved to be a big asset for the T-Birds in the second, as he stopped all 10 Hartford shots, giving his team time to find the game-tying goal. Thomas Schemitsch provided just that at the 16:23 marker, snapping a wrist shot through the legs of Huska to bring the game into a 2-2 tie heading into the final period.

The Wolf Pack showed why they were the best home team in the league shortly after the drop of the puck in the third, as Phil Di Giuseppe put Hartford back in front at 3:35 after being set up on a 2-on-1 rush by Vitali Kravtsov to make it 3-2.

Hartford made it a bigger Springfield hill to climb with back-to-back goals in a 1:22 span, beginning with Dmowski’s second goal of the evening at 12:19. Joey Keane then added a goal to a stat line that already had two assists on it at 13:41 as he raced into the Springfield zone before banking a shot off the post and then the skate of Desrosiers.

Rodrigo Abols gave Springfield hints of another miraculous comeback when he cashed in from point blank range with 3:51 to play to cut the Hartford lead to 5-3, but there would be no such amazing finish tonight, as Matt Beleskey added a diving empty-netter at 19:16 to round out the scoring.

Hartford maintained its hold of first place in the Atlantic Division with the win, which was also the Wolf Pack’s fourth straight over Springfield in the season series.

The two teams rematch in Springfield tomorrow night for the first-ever “What If?” Night presented by Balise. Springfield becomes the Ice-O-Topes for Saturday’s game only, as they look for their first win in the I-91 rivalry series this season. 

Saturday's "What If?" Night, presented by Balise, will feature a live, postgame jersey auction with Thunderbirds players taking part in the festivities. For more information on the night or to purchase tickets, call (413) 739-4625.

For more ticket information or to become a 2019-20 Springfield Thunderbirds ticket package member, or to purchase single game tickets, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com