WOLVES TAKE DOWN HOMERS 4-1

Duchene's two goals lead Wolves to win over Springfield

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Springfield, Mass.- A player swap on the eve of their showdown provided some added drama between the Springfield Homers and Thunder Bay Timberwolves on Sunday.

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"It's a little weird right now," said Steve Sullivan who was acquired by the Timberwolves on Saturday with two prospects in exchange for Simon Gagne and prospects and a pick. "I've been through this before [regarding being traded]. But it's a little different to be traded and just move your gear from one stall to another in the same building."

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Sullivan met his new teammates on Saturday evening when they arrived in Springfield. A team dinner that night and Sunday's morning skate helped the Timmons, Ontario-native begin to get comfortable with his new team. "They're a really tight group of guys. Very family-like and you can tell just from being around everyone that they'd back one another no matter what the occasion."

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Donning their road black 'Sunday' sweaters for only the second time since introducing the threads just before Christmas, the Timberwolves were looking to break the tie skid from their previous two games against Copenhagen [3-3] and Dayton [1-1].

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Tomas Plekanec put the Homers on top first for the Czech forwards 11th on the season from former Timberwolf, Radek Dvorak at 3:39.

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A pair from rookie pivot, Matt Duchene [pictured] at 14:31 and 19:54 put Thunder Bay on top and in control going into the first intermission.

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"We got a little deflated there with that first goal from Plekanec," said Duchene at the break. "But we didn't let it keep us down and the whole team picked up their game and kept things close. Henrik [Lundqvist, 12 saves in 1st period] made the key saves he's been making all year, and we all just built on that."

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In the second period, the lone goal came off the stick of 'Mr. Dependable', Marian Gaborik for the Slovakian snipers 39th on the season from Rick Nash and Marc Savard at 18:17. Gaborik is on the same 50-goal pace as last season when he finished with 57. Lundqvist stopped all 11 shots he faced.

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Rick Nash closed out the game's scoring at 4:09 in the third period for his 15th goal from Savard and captain, Keith Ballard. Thunder Bay won 4-1.

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Although outshot 39-19, the Timberwolves coaches were pleased with the overall game.

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"There's always from feeling out when there is a trade made right before a game. Especially a road game," said assistant coach Ryan McGill. "But we didn't let that early goal against get to us and Lundqvist was outstanding for us again. The shots against were high, but not bad bouncing shots that Lundqvist happened to get lucky on. Lanes were pretty clear and there were alot of long, desperate shots. Our defensemen did a good job out there."

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In his first game for Thunder Bay, Steve Sullivan played on the 4th line with Duchene and a double-shifted Gaborik. He played 10 minutes, did not have a shot on goal and was a +1. Simon Gagne did not dress for Springfield.

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>>>3-STARS

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>>>*Matt Duchene [THU] - 2 goals

>>**Rick Nash [THU] - 1 goal and an assist

>***Henrik Lundqvist [THU] - 1 goal against and 38 saves for the win