Nick Tarnasky scored all three goals for the Springfield Falcons on Saturday night, including the game winner in overtime, giving the Falcons the 3-2 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
Tarnasky opened the scoring 10:33 into the first period on a goal assisted by Todd Rohloff and Darren Reid.
The Sound Tigers answered back when Rob Collins scored just 1:52 later. Tarnasky again gave the Falcons the lead with four minutes remaining in the first on a goal assisted by Dan Cavanaugh and Timo Helbling.
Steve Regier tied the game at two when he scored on the powerplay with helpers from Collins and Bruno Gervais.
The game would remain deadlocked until Tarnasky completed the hat trick 3:08 into the overtime period on an unassisted goal. The goals were Tarnasky’s seventh, eighth, and ninth of the season.
Jonathan Boutin made 27 saves on 29 shots to pick up his fourth win of the season.
The Falcons (20-31-2-6, 48 pts.) move into sixth place in the Atlantic division with the win. The Sound Tigers (31-26-4-2, 68 pts.) remain in fourth place in the East division.
Elsewhere on Saturday:
Daniel Girardi and Alexandre Giroux each scored twice to help Hartford a 5-1 win over Houston and a share of first place in the Atlantic division… Keith Aucoin scored two goals and an assist in Lowell’s 5-2 win over Norfolk… Wade Flaherty shutout Iowa in the shootout to give Manitoba the 4-3 win… Greg Classen scored a hat trick and added an assist to help Milwaukee to a 6-4 win over Peoria… Jared Aulin scored twice in Hershey’s 4-3 win over Philadelphia… Billy Tibbetts scored two goals and an assist to help Chicago to a 6-4 victory over Rochester before 11,994 at Allstate Arena… Matt Hussey scored the game winning goal in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s 4-2 win over Manchester… Nolan Schaefer made 23 saves on 24 shots to earn the win in Cleveland’s 4-1 victory over Hamilton… Binghamton beat Syracuse, 4-2, helped by 36 saves by Kelly Guard.
