The goal was made possible due to some hustle by Protas on the forecheck. As Thunderbirds defenseman Theo Lindstein looked to break out of the zone, Protas's pressure forced him to make a poor pass, chunking his feed off the netting of Springfield's goal. Protas then picked up the loose biscuit and fed Thomas, who beat goaltender Georgi Romanov with a shot from between the circles.
"In a perfect world, especially in the American League, and trying to get these players the best opportunity to play their game, a veteran with two young guys or a young guy with two veterans, that would be helpful," King told RMNB on Thursday.
"Today on the plane, I told the guys, 'If I score, I'm going to bring out the roar one more time for old time's sake,'" McMichael told RMNB's Ian Oland. The 24-year-old forward kept his word, going full grizzly mode after sniping home a shorthanded goal at the 1:07 mark of the third period. "I'm glad I got a chance to do it," McMichael added.
You come in here at 19 and you don't really know what to expect in pro hockey. I've learned a lot of life lessons here from finding my own apartment, having to get my own groceries and just really growing up.
Gibson noted, 'it was a personal obstacle with being hurt all of January and February... it's just a matter of when you get injured in professional hockey.'