PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Springfield Thunderbirds (1-4-0-0) battled back from a three-goal deficit, but were snakebitten by a late game-winner in a 5-3 defeat to the Providence Bruins (5-0-0-0) on Friday night inside the Amica Mutual Pavilion.

Things got off to a rocky start for the T-Birds just 1:57 into the opening period, as a misplayed puck behind the goal line led Riley Tufte to the loose biscuit before centering to Dans Locmelis for a one-timer that eluded Vadim Zherenko, giving Providence the 1-0 advantage.

That would prove to be the only blip on Zherenko’s radar in the opening period, as the netminder bounced back to stop the next 10 shots he faced to keep Springfield within a goal heading into the intermission. The T-Birds’ penalty kill also did its job, denying two chances for

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