The Junior Bruins started fast and never looked back Saturday.
The second-seeded Bruins defeated the third-seeded Twin City Thunder 5-2 in Game 2 of the first-round USPHL National Collegiate Development Conference North Division playoff series.
The Bruins’ victory forces a series-deciding Game 3, which will also take place at the New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Massachusetts, on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
“We told the guys in the locker room that (the Junior Bruins) would try to win the game in the first period and they did,” Thunder coach Dan Hodge said. “They came out and won the first period. We couldn’t answer. We tried. We couldn’t get it going.”
Defenseman Charlie Spence scored a goal and assisted on another and goalie Colin Winn made 30 saves for the Bruins in the win.
The Bruins struck early and often in the first period, with Spence giving the Bruins a 1-0 lead nearly three minutes into the game. He then had one of the two assists on Grady Friedman’s power-play goal at the 5:23 mark of the first period.
“They came out and played with a purpose, and we came out to watch,” Hodge said.
Friedman’s father, Doug, coached the Thunder’s Premier League team in 2018-19 and then the Thunder’s NCDC team in 2019-20.
Alex Scimeca added to the Bruins’ lead with a goal 11:58 into the first, and, in the final minutes of the opening period, Frankie Ireland scored a shorthanded goal for a 4-0 Bruins advantage.
Five minutes into the second period, Andrey Levushkin scored his second goal of the series to extend the lead to 5-0. Former Maine Nordiques player Connor Wood had one of the assists.
Hodge said the Thunder players knew they didn’t play their best.
“They knew they weren’t ready to play. They knew it; they are an honest group,” Hodge said. “They admitted it.”
Forward Tommy Gannon put the Thunder on the board 15 minutes into the second period, with linemate Trace Norwell recording the assist.
Defenseman Ben Monson added a goal for Twin City in the third period to cut the deficit to 5-2. Forwards Dom Chasse and Matt Cole had the assists.
Goalie Brody Haynes made eight saves on 11 chances for the Thunder before being relieved by Dane Couture, who made 25 saves on 27 shots.
Despite the Thunder not playing well Saturday, Hodge is keeping things in perspective.
“We have to look at the series as a whole. We have only lost one period and that’s today,” Hodge said. “We lost the first, tied the second, and we won the third period. You win the first game, and you have that third game in your back pocket in a just-in-case scenario.”
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