SPRINGFIELD - Hockey fans don't throw their hats on the ice anymore, but scoring three goals is just as satisfying to a player as ever.

"My dad was in the building, and even he didn't throw his hat,'' Springfield Thunderbirds' forward Dryden Hunt said with a grin after his three-goal outburst Sunday led a rousing 7-4 win over the Belleville Senators at the MassMutual Center.

"Losing does get in your head a little bit, but to get the first win and before the home crowd - that was good.''

Thus ended a six-game losing streak to start the season. The Birds had scored only 11 goals in those six games, but the first victory was not only a relief but a signal of talent that needs time to develop.

"It's been a bit of a tough start everywhere on the ice, from special teams to scoring goals. You know (the first win) is going to come, but better sooner than later,'' Hunt said.

For as much as the 38-shot offensive burst was welcomed, this game was also won with remarkable penalty killing. Making its first appearance as an Ontario franchise after moving from Binghamton, Belleville went 0-for-10 on the power play.

In the first period, Springfield collected four straight penalties in 3 minutes and 41 seconds. Playing shorthanded for six minutes and two men down for much of that time, the Thunderbirds held onto their 1-1 tie and then took the lead at 18:54, when Hunt's first goal came on the power play.

For a very young team on a losing streak, negotiating that minefield and reaching the first intermission with a 2-1 lead was a blessing. While Belleville was coming up empty on the power play, the Thunderbirds were 3-for-7 with the manpower advantage.

One of the penalty killers was defenseman Ed Wittchow, who also had three assists. Anthony Greco, Blaine Byron, Curtis Valk and Alexandre Grenier had the other goals, and Grenier had two assists.

Valk's goal with 4.4 seconds left in the second period made it 5-2. Belleville made it interesting when Patrick Sieloff scored at 32 seconds of the third, but rather than go into a shell, the Thunderbirds played aggressively with a third-period lead that was frankly a new experience for them.

It made for a pleasing AHL starting debut for goalie Evan Cowley, who made 27 saves. Cowley saw brief action in relief at Syracuse Saturday night, and the 22-year-old University of Denver product said that helped prepare him for Sunday.

Cowley made some key saves, but deferred much of the credit to his defense, especially during the telling first-period stretch when the Birds were playing a man or two short.

"There was great structure by our guys. They were getting sticks in the middle and letting me see pucks coming in,'' Cowley said.

When a team is struggling, it's looking for signs the drought is ending. For Springfield, it might have been Byron's first pro goal in the former Maine collegian's sixth game.

Hunt's power-play goal at 9:41 of the second period had given the Thunderbirds a 3-2 lead. The Birds were still on the power play when Byron deposited the puck from in front just 48 seconds later, causing Byron to pound the glass to celebrate a rare T-Birds luxury - a two-goal lead that had the 3,517 fans on their feet.

"Playing three games in three days makes the third game a mental game,'' Hunt said after a busy weekend had ended. "You've got to play through that, and it's good we did."