Thunderbirds unable to help postseason standings in loss to Belleville (photos) (2025)

SPRINGFIELD – Coming into Friday night’s game between the Thunderbirds and Senators, Belleville was four points behind Toronto for the final postseason spot in the North Division.

Since the Thunderbirds punched their ticket into the postseason last week, their newest focus has been improving their potential seeding over the final four regular-season games.

That wasn’t enough motivation, though, as the Senators kept their postseason hopes alive with a 4-2 win against Springfield in front of an opposing sell-out crowd of 6,793 fans at the MassMutual Center.

“I think because we already clinched, there wasn’t that same desperation because the 60 minutes got away from us,” Thunderbirds coach Steve Konowalchuk said. “And when I say desperation, I mean desperation to stay sharp in every shift down the stretch.

“I liked our start for the most part. But as the game went on, it started to get a little looser at times, and we didn’t stick to the structure with or without the puck.”

Behind a game-high 25 saves from Leevi Meriläinen, Bellville improved to 33-26-4-5 on the season. Since Toronto didn’t play on Friday, the Senators moved two points behind the Marlies in the North Division.

“It’s a little bit desperation level when you clinch a playoff spot, so I think that showed tonight,” Konowalchuk said. “But we want to get back because you still have to play the game, eventually right for 60 minutes.”

Vadim Zherenko recorded 23 saves in a losing effort as the Thunderbirds moved to 34-29-2-4. Since Lehigh Valley also lost on Friday, both teams remain tied in the Atlantic Division with three regular-season games left.

Springfield, though, will maintain fifth place since the Thunderbirds have one more win than sixth-place Lehigh Valley.

Despite 14 combined shot attempts and five penalties, both teams remained scoreless through most of the first period.

That statistic changed as Cole Reinhardt connected with Donovan Sebrango at the red faceoff circle for a one-timer to move the Senators ahead 1-0 through 15-plus minutes of action.

Sebrango earned his third point in two games and eighth-season goal, while Garrett Pilon and Reinhardt earned their 33rd and 17th assists on the drive.

Springfield remained poised, though, as they regained possession moments later.

And it wasn’t for nothing, as Otto Stenberg maneuvered through traffic outside the crease and located Matthew Peca along the right with a backward pass.

The rest was history, as Peca recorded his team-high 31st goal to help the Thunderbirds even the score at 1-1 with two minutes left in the frame. Stenberg earned his 11th assist on the drive.

Both teams remained stalemated through 20 minutes of action despite 20 combined shot attempts and three unsuccessful power-play attempts.

As proven earlier, though, no lead was safe in this game. And that statement came to fruition as Belleville earned a 2-on-1 breakaway attempt during the 28th minute.

Despite an opposing attempt to interrupt the momentum, former Thunderbird Jamieson Rees connected with Tristen Robins to briefly move the Senators ahead behind his first goal with the team.

Not so fast.

The momentum was shortlived, though, as Tarun Fizer located Calen Addison between the red faceoff circles for an impressive wrister over the left shoulder of Meriläinen to even the score at 2-2 with 10:43 left in the second.

Addison celebrated his birthday in style, as the 25-year-old scored his fifth-season goal. Leo Lööf and Fizer, meanwhile, earned their 17th and second assists on the drive.

Coming into Friday, Belleville had only scored on 15-of-126 of its previous power-play opportunities on the road.

But that statistic meant nothing, as Xavier Bourgault countered with his 11th-season goal on his team’s second attempt on the man-advantage to move the Senators ahead through 40 minutes of action.

Belleville maintained a 3-2 lead as both teams entered the second intermission. Despite five unsuccessful shot attempts to begin the final period, Springfield failed to erase its deficit.

The Senators, however, continued to flourish.

The road team earned its fourth power-play attempt since Addison was whistled for cross-checking.

That penalty proved vital, as Philippe Daoust took a feed from Jan Jeník to seal the outcome for Belleville with under 11 minutes left in regulation.

Between 13 combined penalties, the Thunderbirds finished 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Senators went 2-for-7.

The Thunderbirds will complete the weekend behind their final regular-season road trip on Saturday night as they are scheduled to compete against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton inside Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

The puck drop is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

“We want to focus on making sure we’re playing the right way,” Konowalchuk said. “So the intent is to go out there and have that desperation of play every shift. The game was right there for us a lot of times.

“But it’s those little things where we come in from Lehigh Valley, where we played 60 minutes plus overtime, with the intent of saying an almost perfect hockey game. Though mistakes were made, there were intentions to make the right play.

“And that wasn’t the case tonight because we had some turnovers and tried to force things. We also didn’t have our third-man high against a team that is good on the rush. That’s just not as being sharp as you need to be, so that will be important (Saturday), so we’ll make sure we’re playing the right way.”