Ryan Johanssen scored with 27.1 seconds left to help gain a point for Springfield.
Springfield's Nick Drazenovic, right, watches St. John's goalie Eddie Pasquale cover the puck in the first period of the Falcons' overtime loss Saturday night at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
SPRINGFIELD – It was over in a New York minute.
Ivan Telegin scored with 56 seconds gone in overtime to lift the St. John’s IceCaps to a 3-2 victory over the Springfield Falcons Saturday night at the MassMutual Center before 3,706.
Ryan Johanssen scored with 27.1 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. The Falcons had lifted goalie Allen York in favor of an extra attacker with 1:01 left.
They crashed the net and drew a delayed penalty, and David Savard and Cam Atkinson had whacks at the puck before Johansen stuffed it into the right corner to tie the score at 2-2.
“I was on the bench just yelling for us to get a bounce and we got one,” York said.
Telegin broke in during the extra session to beat York from the high slot following a turnover.
“I thought we were destined to win the game after we got that late goal,” the Springfield goalie said. “We deserved a better fate.”
But goaltending did not cost the Falcons. They suffered their second straight loss because of their inability to finish their scoring chances.
But the Birds continue to play an up-tempo game and move the puck.
“The guys really played well,” York said. “They blocked a lot of shots and everyone played hard.”
The difference in this game was special teams. The IceCaps were able to convert two power plays, while the Falcons did not take advantage when they were up a man.
The Falcons won the first three games of the series, including a sweep last weekend in Newfoundland. But the clutch scoring that was such a trademark of the team the first nine weeks of the American Hockey League season has suddenly eluded the Falcons the past couple of games.
The Falcons struck first to take a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. Sean Collins scored his sixth goal.
Dalton Prout got the puck from Michael Chaput at the top of the circle and fired a low shot that Collins redirected past Eddie Pasquale.
After missing a couple of opportunities to build on that lead, the Falcons got into penalty trouble and it cost them. Spencer Machacek scored on the power play with 1:26 remaining in the first period.
York went down to make the initial save on a shot by Kael Mouillerat, but Machacek scooped up the rebound and lifted a backhander into the upper portion of the net as St. John’s pulled even, 1-1.
York kept his team in the game and put them in position to win, and managed to help the Birds earn a point for the overtime loss.