Nathan Robinson scored three times in a span of 4:06 during the second period, sending Providence on its way to a 6-2 win over Springfield at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Sunday evening.
Springfield came in with an 8-1-1-1 road record on the season, but were outshot by a 13-2 margin in the first period while allowing a goal to ex-Falcon Eric Healey.
The Falcons then controlled most of the second period, firing 18 shots on Tim Thomas in the frame, but still trailed 1-0 before Robinson began his ambush at the 12:10 mark. The 2004 AHL All-Star forward added another goal off a 2-on-1 break at 14:21, and capped his hat trick off a feed from David Lundbohm at 16:16.
Robinson’s three-goal period matched his scoring output from his previous 18 games combined.
Ben Guite scored a man down in the first minute of the third period to make it 5-0, and the Falcons were held off the board until scoring a pair of shorthanded goals of their own. Darren Reid broke up the shutout bid with 4:37 left in regulation, and Norm Milley converted on a penalty shot with 1:32 remaining.
Healey’s second goal of the night came into an empty net late.
Thomas finished with 27 saves for the game as Providence improved its record to 10-11-1-1.
SAN ANTONIO 4, OMAHA 1
Steve Gainey scored one goal and assisted on three others as San Antonio earned its third victory in a row, a 4-1 decision in Omaha.
After Gainey opened the scoring midway through the first, he set up Randall Gelech‘s first of two goals on the evening in the final second of the period to give the Rampage a 2-1 lead.
Chris McAllister scored with five seconds left before the second intermission to make it 3-1, and Gelech scored again into an empty net late in the third.
Brian Boucher made 29 saves to get the win in net for San Antonio.
HERSHEY 4, BRIDGEPORT 2
Chris Bourque‘s tie-breaking goal early in the third period stood up as the difference as Hershey recorded a 4-2 win over Bridgeport at Giant Center.
It was the Bears’ fourth win over the Sound Tigers in the last 12 days.
Brooks Laich, Mark Wotton and Dave Steckel also scored for Hershey, while Graham Mink and Boyd Kane each tallied two assists.
ROCHESTER 3, TORONTO 1
Three quick, late strikes gave Rochester a 3-1 victory over Toronto at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday.
The Marlies were clinging to a 1-0 advantage, gained on Tyler Beechey‘s second-period goal, until Doug Janik tied the score on his first goal of the season with 4:29 left in regulation.
Matt Hendricks gave the Amerks the lead 58 seconds later, and Scott Sheppard clinched the win with an empty-netter.
Ryan Miller, making his second rehab start for the Amerks, stopped 20 shots in the win. J.S. Aubin recorded 21 saves in defeat.
HOUSTON 4, CLEVELAND 1
Kirby Law scored two goals and added an assist to lead Houston to a 4-1 win in Cleveland.
Law moved into a tie for second place in the AHL’s scoring race at 36 points, three behind teammate Erik Westrum, who recorded one assist on Sunday.
Erik Reitz and Josh Olson each scored a shorthanded goal for the Aeros, and former Baron Seamus Kotyk turned aside 25 of 26 Cleveland shots.
CHICAGO 4, PEORIA 1
Brian Sipotz scored early in the third period and Jani Hurme made 12 of his 21 saves during the final frame as Chicago took a 4-1 decision from visiting Peoria.
It was the fourth loss in a row for the Rivermen, and just the fourth win in 10 tries at Allstate Arena for the Wolves.
Pat Dwyer scored twice for Chicago, both on the power play.
For Sipotz, it was his second goal of the season. Four of his five AHL goals (in 113 career regular-season and playoff games) have been game-winners.
Jason Bacashihua took the loss despite making 36 saves.
