SPRINGFIELD 6, PORTLAND 3
Springfield’s offense came to life on Tuesday as the Falcons doubled up visiting Portland by a 6-3 count at the MassMutual Center to snap an 11-game winless skid.
Falcons defenseman Bryan Young, who hadn’t netted a goal in more than four years, scored the first of his pro career for the game-winner.
Each side lit the lamp three times in the opening period. The Pirates grabbed 1-0 and 2-1 leads on goals by Mathieu Darche and defenseman Paul Baier, and Aaron Slattengren also lit the lamp. Defenseman Mike Kostka chipped in two assists.
Taylor Chorney, Ryan Stone and Geoff Paukovich netted first-period goals for Springfield, and the game remained 3-3 through most of the middle frame.
Young broke the deadlock at the 18:00 mark. The third-year pro hadn’t scored a goal since Jan. 8, 2005, when he was playing junior hockey for Peterborough (OHL).
Sebastien Bisaillon and Colin McDonald tacked on third-period insurance markers for the Falcons, who hadn’t netted more than four goals in a game since a 5-1 win over Providence on Nov. 22.
Goaltender Dany Sabourin made 32 saves to earn his first win in a Springfield uniform and his first in the AHL since Nov. 18, 2006.
Portland saw its six-game points streak (3-0-0-3) come to an end and missed a chance to pull into first place in the Atlantic Division.
BRIDGEPORT 3, NORFOLK 2 (SO)
Defenseman Jamie Fraser scored at 4:39 of overtime to give Bridgeport a 3-2 win over visiting Norfolk on Tuesday at the Arena at Harbor Yard.
The Sound Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead just 1:59 after the opening face-off when Sean Bentivoglio netted his sixth goal of the campaign.
But Brandon Segal responded with a pair of goals for the Admirals, giving Norfolk a 2-1 lead 12:27 into the middle frame. That lead held until Bridgeport’s Ben Walter scored on the power play 29 seconds into the third period.
Sound Tigers goaltender Tobias Stephan made 23 saves to emerge with the victory, improving to 4-0-0 since joining the team. Norfolk counterpart Riku Helenius stopped 42 of 45 shots in the losing effort.
The win extended Bridgeport’s points streak to four games (3-0-0-1) and allowed the Sound Tigers (31-17-3-3, 68 points) to open a four-point lead on Binghamton for third place in the East Division race.