Springfield Ends Season With 4-3 Victory

Apr 10, 2017

Patrick Smyth helped the Springfield Jr. Blues close their season on a winning note as he scored two goals Saturday night in a 4-3 North American Hockey League victory over the Coulee Region Chill at the Nelson Center.

It was the final game of the season for Springfield, who swept the two-game series to finish 27-28 with four overtime losses and one shootout loss. Their 59 points gave them a fifth-place finish in the NAHL Midwest Division.

Springfield finished five points behind the fourth-place Chill, who took the division’s final playoff spot.

Similar to Friday’s 4-2 win over Coulee Region, Springfield spotted the Chill a 1-0 lead Saturday before scoring four straight goals.

The Chill were able to take a 1-0 lead at 3 minutes 14 seconds into the first period. But Brennan Blaszczak answered, scoring his team-leading 25th goal on assists from Max Nylander and Jack Nickels at 5:47 into the first.

Alex Peck made it 2-1 Springfield on a power-play goal assisted by Joey Sardina and Anthony Grimdaldi at 2:49 into the second period. Smyth followed with a goal assisted by Ryan Leibold at 15:16 into the second.

It was Smyth from Leibold again at 1:55 into the third period as Springfield opened a 4-1 lead.

Coulee Region were able to get 2 goals in the third period to attempt a comeback, but Springfield was able to deny them of the tying goal and came away with the win.

Mike Robinson was in goal for Springfield stopping 35 of 38 Coulee Region shots on goal.