HERSHEY, PA — For nearly seven years, the Springfield Thunderbirds couldn’t buy a win at Giant Center. Sunday night, they didn’t just win—they dominated, dismantling the Hershey Bears 5-1 to snap a 14-game home losing streak that stretched back to March 2019.
The stunning reversal came just 24 hours after Hershey controlled Springfield in a lopsided victory. But on this Pink the Rink Night finale, it was the visiting Thunderbirds wearing their opponent down, capitalizing on mental mistakes, and riding stellar goaltending from Vadim Zherenko to even the weekend series and deliver a wake-up call to the young Bears squad.
The Turning Point
The game’s defining sequence came late in the opening frame. Already trailing after Jakub Stancl’s slot strike had beaten Clay Stevenson at 7:06, Hershey couldn’t stem the bleeding before intermission. With just 24 seconds remaining in the period, Hunter Skinner doubled Springfield’s advantage with helpers from Nikita Alexandrov and Matthew Peca, sending the Bears to the locker room facing a two-goal deficit and the realization that their legs simply weren’t there.
That late first-period goal deflated whatever fight remained in the home squad. The emotional gut-punch of surrendering a goal in the dying seconds set the tone for a second period where Springfield would add three more—including goals just 2:26 apart from Matt Luff and Dalibor Dvorský—before Hershey could finally solve Vadim Zherenko.
How It Unfolded
First Period: Springfield 2, Hershey 0
The evening started with fireworks of a different kind. At 3:14, Justin Nachbaur dropped the gloves with Kale Kessy in what was a homecoming of sorts for the former Bears Man of the Year award winner. Both players received five-minute fighting majors in Kessy’s first game at Giant Center since being dealt to Colorado back in March 2023, and the scrap energized Springfield.
Minutes later at 7:06, Stancl netted his first career AHL tally, beating Stevenson from the slot with Corey Schueneman earning the helper. The Thunderbirds capitalized on special teams momentum despite Nikita Susuyev taking a slashing penalty at 14:00. When Calle Rosén went to the box for hooking at 16:18, Springfield couldn’t convert on the man advantage. But at 19:36, Skinner buried his first career goal at even strength, with Alexandrov and Peca assisting. The Bears headed to intermission chasing a two-goal deficit and trailing 11-8 in shots.
Second Period: Springfield 3, Hershey 1
Springfield extended their dominance in the middle frame. Matt Luff made it 3-0 at 11:45, converting a beautiful setup from Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein. Just 2:26 later, Dalibor Dvorský notched his first career AHL goal at 14:11, with Alexandrov collecting his second assist of the night and Juraj Pekarcik also setting up the play.
Henrik Rybinski finally broke through for Hershey at 15:24, finishing off helpers from Jon McDonald and Leon Muggli, who recorded his first career AHL point. But any momentum was short-lived. David Gucciardi took a cross-checking penalty at 18:44, and just 53 seconds later at 19:37, Theo Lindstein scored his first career AHL tally on the power play, with assists from Luff and Alexandrov—giving the Springfield playmaker his third assist of the evening. The Thunderbirds matched their first-period shot total with 11 more.
Third Period: Springfield 0, Hershey 0
The intensity remained high in the final frame. Just over two minutes in, coincidental roughing minors to Nikita Alexandrov and Aaron Ness showed both teams were playing with an edge despite the lopsided score. Hershey got a power-play opportunity when Susuyev went to the box for hooking at 7:11, but couldn’t capitalize. Ryan Chesley took a late tripping penalty at 15:36, giving Springfield one final power play.
Despite outshooting Springfield 14-6 in the period and getting those two power-play chances, the Bears couldn’t crack Zherenko. Graeme Clarke led the charge with a team-high six shots on the night, but Springfield’s defensive structure held firm to preserve the commanding victory.
Player Spotlight: Vadim Zherenko
While four Thunderbirds celebrated their first career goals and Nikita Alexandrov orchestrated the offense with three assists, it was goaltender Vadim Zherenko who slammed the door when it mattered most. Making just his second appearance of the season, the netminder was the difference-maker, especially in the third period when Hershey desperately tried to claw back into the game.
The Numbers: 28 saves on 29 shots (.966 save percentage), including 14 saves in the third period alone
Context: After Hershey outshot Springfield 14-6 in the final frame while pressing hard with power-play opportunities, Zherenko stood tall. His performance allowed Springfield’s young goal scorers to play with confidence, knowing they had a brick wall behind them. The only blemish was Rybinski’s goal, but by then Springfield had already built a commanding cushion.
Alexandrov’s Masterclass
Nikita Alexandrov’s three-assist performance deserves special mention. The veteran forward set up three different rookies—Skinner, Dvorský, and Lindstein—for their first career AHL goals, showcasing the playmaking vision and patience that makes him such a dangerous weapon. His plus-2 rating and ability to slow the game down in the offensive zone was exactly what Springfield lacked in Saturday’s loss.
Matt Luff also had a huge night with a goal and an assist to finish plus-2, while defenseman Corey Schueneman quietly posted a plus-3 rating with an assist on Stancl’s opening goal. The Thunderbirds’ depth was on full display—11 different players recorded at least one point, showing this wasn’t just a one-line effort.
What We Learned
About Springfield: This Thunderbirds squad has the talent to compete when they execute their structure. The difference between Saturday and Sunday wasn’t roster changes—it was effort level, attention to detail, and stellar goaltending. Four young players—Stancl, Skinner, Dvorský, and Lindstein—all scored their first career AHL goals in a single game, a remarkable milestone night for the organization. But it was Zherenko who truly stole the show, posting a .966 save percentage and stopping all 14 shots he faced in the third period to preserve the historic victory. The balanced attack was impressive too—11 different players recorded at least one point, with veteran Schueneman posting a team-high plus-3 rating.
About Hershey: The Bears are thin right now, and it’s showing in back-to-back situations. Missing forwards Ethen Frank and Ivan Miroshnichenko, this young roster doesn’t have the depth to overcome fatigue-induced mental lapses. King’s postgame assessment was blunt—his team looked gassed and stopped thinking, leaving Stevenson to fend for himself on multiple breakdowns. The plus/minus numbers tell a brutal story: Ryan Chesley and Sheldon Rempal were both minus-3, while captain Aaron Ness finished minus-2. The lone bright spot was rookie Leon Muggli, who recorded his first career AHL point with an assist and was the only Bears skater to finish on the positive side at plus-1. Discipline was also an issue, with five penalties including David Gucciardi’s costly cross-checking minor that led directly to Springfield’s dagger power-play goal.
Key Stat: Springfield improved to 1-2-0-0 while ending their 0-14-0 drought at Giant Center dating back to March 13, 2019. The Thunderbirds had been outscored 55-26 during that brutal stretch. The critical difference Sunday? Special teams execution—Springfield converted 1-of-3 power plays, including Theo Lindstein’s backbreaker with 23 seconds left in the second period, while Hershey went 0-for-2.
The Quote That Matters
“We looked tired, and when you’re tired, you start making mental errors and mistakes [with] coverage. Can’t say we didn’t have chances to score—he made some big saves. Our goalie played well again, we just left him hanging.” — Hershey head coach Derek King
This tells you everything about where the Bears are right now. King isn’t sugarcoating the performance, and he’s already leaning on his veterans to help guide the youngsters through these learning experiences.
What’s Next
Springfield Thunderbirds (1-2-0-0) head to Hartford on Wednesday night looking to build momentum after salvaging the weekend split. Can they carry this defensive intensity on the road?
Hershey Bears (1-2-1-0) hit the road for the first time this season, visiting Lehigh Valley on Friday before returning home Saturday for Trick-or-Treat Night. The young Bears need to rediscover the energy they showed in Friday’s dominant win, because this Atlantic Division schedule doesn’t get any easier.
By The Numbers
Scoring Summary:
First Period
- 7:06 SPR – Jakub Stancl (1) – Corey Schueneman
- 19:36 SPR – Hunter Skinner (1) – Nikita Alexandrov, Matthew Peca
Second Period
- 11:45 SPR – Matt Luff (2) – Otto Stenberg, Theo Lindstein
- 14:11 SPR – Dalibor Dvorský (1) – Nikita Alexandrov, Juraj Pekarcik
- 15:24 HER – Henrik Rybinski (2) – Jon McDonald, Leon Muggli
- 19:37 SPR – Theo Lindstein (1) – Matt Luff, Nikita Alexandrov
Third Period
- No Scoring
Game Stats:
- Final Score: Springfield 5, Hershey 1
- Shots on Goal by Period:
- 1st: SPR 11, HER 8
- 2nd: SPR 11, HER 7
- 3rd: SPR 6, HER 14
- Total: SPR 28, HER 29
- Power Play: Hershey 0-for-2, Springfield 1-for-3 (Lindstein goal at 19:37 of 2nd)
- Penalty Minutes: Springfield 11 min (4 infractions), Hershey 13 min (5 infractions)
- Goaltending:
- Clay Stevenson (HER): 23 saves on 28 shots, .821 save percentage
- Vadim Zherenko (SPR): 28 saves on 29 shots, .966 save percentage
Penalties:
First Period
- 03:14 – Kale Kessy (SPR) & Justin Nachbaur (HER) – Fighting, 5 min each
- 14:00 – Nikita Susuyev (SPR) – Slashing, 2 min
- 16:18 – Calle Rosén (HER) – Hooking, 2 min
Second Period
- 18:44 – David Gucciardi (HER) – Cross-checking, 2 min
Third Period
- 02:07 – Nikita Alexandrov (SPR) & Aaron Ness (HER) – Roughing, 2 min each
- 07:11 – Nikita Susuyev (SPR) – Hooking, 2 min
- 15:36 – Ryan Chesley (HER) – Tripping, 2 min
Milestones:
- Clay Stevenson’s 75th career appearance with Hershey passed Bob Johnson for 28th in franchise history
- First career AHL goals: Jakub Stancl (SPR), Hunter Skinner (SPR), Theo Lindstein (SPR), Dalibor Dvorský (SPR)
- First career AHL point: Leon Muggli (HER)
- Streak Snapped: Hershey’s 14-game home win streak vs Springfield (March 13, 2019 – Oct. 18, 2025)
Top Performers (Springfield):
- Nikita Alexandrov: 3A, +2
- Matt Luff: 1G, 1A, +2
- Theo Lindstein: 1G, 1A, +1
- Corey Schueneman: 1A, +3
- Hunter Skinner: 1G, +2
- Matthew Peca: 1A, +2
Top Performers (Hershey):
- Henrik Rybinski: 1G, -1
- Jon McDonald: 1A, 0
- Leon Muggli: 1A, +1 (first career AHL point)
- Graeme Clarke: 6 shots, team-high
- Justin Nachbaur: 5 PIM (fighting major)
Three Stars
- Nikita Alexandrov, Springfield – Three assists, setting up three different rookies for their first career goals in masterful playmaking display
- Matt Luff, Springfield – Goal and an assist (1+1), veteran leadership in the breakthrough victory
- Vadim Zherenko, Springfield – Turned aside 28 of 29 shots (.966 save percentage), including 14-for-14 in the third period to shut the door
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