Playing for their playoff lives, the Springfield Thunderbirds led wire to wire in beating Laval Rocket 4-0 Wednesday night at the Mass Mutual Center to secure their ticket in the Calder Cup Final.
They won the series 4 games to 3.
The Thunderbirds will be going to the championship for the first time in its history.
No Springfield hockey team has made it to the finals since 1991.
Springfield will meet the Chicago Wolves. The two teams did not meet this year.
Springfield entering the game with an dismal 0 for 29 on the power play got back on the scoring ledger with two power play goals.
Dakota Joshua scored twice for the Birds. So did Matthew Peca and Nathan Todd.
The Calder Cup finals will start on Sunday in Chicago. It is a 2-3-2 series. The first two games in Chicago, Sunday and Monday.
The series comes to Springfield for games three, four and five June 22 24, and 25th if needed.
If games six and seven are needed the series would go back to Chicago for games Tuesday June 28th and Wednesday June 29th.
All games, home and away are set for Newsradio 560 WHYN.
(Photo Credit: American Hockey League)