Akhil Thomas score 13:44 into overtime as Springfield reached the Atlantic Division final in one game with a 4-3 victory at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday night.
Down 3-0 40 minutes after being shut out in Game 1, the Thunderbirds shocked the Penguins with three third-period goals, the last two coming. Dillon Dube comes in the last 3:24 of regulation and goalie George Romanov drew an extra skater.
Then in overtime, Aleksanteri Kaskimäki he ran down the left wing and found Thomas cutting in. Thomas stumbled Harrison Brunicke behind and the puck went wide, off the end boards and past a sliding Thomas into the net.
Hugh McGing started the comeback with a shorthanded goal 55 seconds into the third period, ending the season for the Penguins netminder. Sergei Murashov 139 minutes and 41 seconds.
Calle Rosén had three assists, and Romanov (6-2) finished with 39 saves as Springfield improved to 4-0 in overtime games this season.
Bill Zonnonwho scored in his pro debut in Game 1, found the back of the net for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s second straight game. Tristan Broz again Avery Hayes and a goal, too Mikhail Ilyin he got two assistants.
Murashov (4-2) stopped 41 shots on the night.
(Series tied, 1-1)
Game 1 – Tues., May 12 – WB/SCRANTON 2, Springfield 0
Game 2 – Thursday, May 14 – Springfield 4, WB/Scranton 3 (OT)
Game 3 – Tuesday, May 19 – WB/Scranton at Springfield, 7:05
Game 4 – Thursday, May 21 – WB/Scranton at Springfield, 7:05
*Game 5 – Sat., May 23 – Springfield at WB/Scranton, 6:05
*if necessary… All times in Mpumalanga
