WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (1-0-0-0) rode a fantastic goaltending performance from Georgii Romanov to a 3-2 overtime win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (0-0-1-0) in the season's opening contest on Saturday night at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.

It did not take Steve Ott's club long to atone for their playoff ouster some five months earlier, as it took rookie Justin Carbonneau just 3:11 to log his first professional goal, as he scooped a backhander past Penguins netminder Joel Blomqvist on the doorstep off a nifty set-up from T.J. Tynan. 

Showing their mettle, the Penguins fought back quickly as Atley Calvert parked himself near the T-Birds crease and shuffled a forehand rebound past an outstretched Romanov at 5:05 to tie the score, 1-1. 

Springfield's penalty killers were put to work with regularity in the first period, along with Romanov, and they answered the call to dispatch all three Wilkes-Barre/Scranton advantages. 

Playing in his first game with the Springfield AHL franchise since his tenure with the Falcons in 2015, Tynan potted his first goal in T-Birds colors at 16:32 of the first, cruising down the slot after a slick setup from Carbonneau. Alek Kaskimaki picked up his second assist of the night as well.

The Penguins continued to hold a firm edge in the shot column, outpacing Springfield 14-6 in the second period alone. It would take a shorthanded opportunity for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to solve Romanov again as Calvert fooled the T-Birds goalie on a knuckling one-timer at 12:32 of the period to tie the score, 2-2.

Power plays proved to be messy for both squads all night, as both clubs squandered four opportunities spaced across regulation time. The Penguins had a glorious chance to win when Kaskimaki was whistled for a penalty with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, but Romanov and the PK unit answered the bell to get the game to overtime.

After killing the remaining penalty time at the start of overtime, play continued at 4-on-4, and Tynan found himself in the middle of things once again. With the T-Birds getting a numbers advantage off the rush, Tynan slipped the puck into the high slot to Calle Rosen. While the veteran blueliner juggled the puck initially, he was able to reach back and fling a wrister that eluded Blomqvist and won it for Springfield at 1:50 of the extra period.

The T-Birds complete their first weekend of the regular season in Providence at 3:05 p.m. on Sunday for the first of 14 tangles with the Bruins. Fans can listen live on NewsRadio 560 AM and 98.9 FM WHYN. The game will also stream on AHLTV powered by FloHockey.

Springfield opens its home slate on Saturday, Oct. 10 against the Laval Rocket for a 6:05 p.m. puck drop on MGM Springfield Opening Night, featuring the Community Bank Pregame Block Party from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at The Landing.

Thunderbirds' 2026-27 season tickets are available now - fans can reserve their seat by visiting www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com or by calling (413) 739-GOAL (4625).