
Thunderbirds Embark on Three-Game Weekend
November 23, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (9-4-0-2) get back to work on Friday as they open a three-game, three-day weekend. They host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (8-6-2-1) on Friday at 7:05 p.m. before welcoming the Syracuse Crunch (9-5-1-0) the next night inside the MassMutual Center for Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Finally, the T-Birds will travel into Connecticut for a battle with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (11-5-2-0) on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at Webster Bank Arena.
The Thunderbirds will look to build upon a two-game winning streak that saw them outscore their opponents 12-6 in two games last weekend against Rochester (9-4) and Lehigh Valley (3-2). Michael Hutchinson helped bring home the second of those victories with his first victory in the Thunderbirds goal crease, stopping 29 of 31 shots against the division rival Phantoms.
It will be the third matchup of the season for Springfield against the Penguins, with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton taking the victories on Oct. 6 (3-2 SO) in Wilkes-Barre and Nov. 14 (5-1) in Springfield respectively. However, the Penguins will be without Tristan Jarry on Friday, as the goaltender was recalled by Pittsburgh earlier in the day on Thursday. Jarry became the first Penguins goalie to score a goal in team history to cap off the win nine days ago at the MassMutual Center.
Saturday will mark the first game of the season between the T-Birds and Crunch. Syracuse has been one of the hottest teams in the AHL of late, going 7-0-1-0 in their last eight contests entering the weekend. The Crunch had started the season with a record of just 2-5-0-0 in their first seven games. Veteran Cory Conacher has led the way with 20 points in just 11 games for Syracuse.
The weekend concludes with another visit to Bridgeport, and the Thunderbirds will look to atone for a 5-2 loss on Nov. 3, which at the time was Springfield's first regulation loss of the season. Defenseman Devon Toews has paced the offense for the upstart Sound Tigers with 17 points in 18 games played. The Sound Tigers begin the weekend sitting four points ahead of Springfield in the Atlantic Division standings, but with the Thunderbirds holding three games in hand.
Springfield Thunderbirds fans are encouraged to visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com to learn more about 2018-19 Thunderbirds Season Ticket Memberships. Packages include a wide range of benefits, including the lowest prices for the 2019 Lexus AHL All-Star Classic presented by MGM Springfield. For more information or to order now, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.
American Hockey League Stories from November 23, 2018
- Puempel Scores Twice in 3-2 Shootout Loss - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Amerks Unable to Catch Comets in 5-4 Loss - Rochester Americans
- Wolves Rout Rockford - Chicago Wolves
- Iowa Defeated by Manitoba in Overtime by a Score of 3-2 - Iowa Wild
- Bridgeport extends points streak to nine games - Bridgeport Islanders
- Crunch Defeat Devils, 5-3 - Syracuse Crunch
- Penguins Lose in Overtime to T-Birds, 4-3 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Wolf Pack Erase Early Hole to Top Bridgeport in Shootout - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Monsters Clipped by Marlies in Overtime, 6-5 - Cleveland Monsters
- Admirals Take Third Straight Win - Milwaukee Admirals
- Macdonald's OT Ripper Gets T-Birds a 3rd Straight Win - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Crunch Hang on to Beat Devils, 5-3 - Binghamton Devils
- Hershey Drops 6-2 Road Decision to Phantoms - Hershey Bears
- Comets Earn Divisional Win over Amerks - Utica Comets
- Sabres Assign Pilut to Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Anaheim Ducks Assign Welinski to San Diego - San Diego Gulls
- Eagles Assign Dickinson to Utah Grizzlies - Colorado Eagles
- Goaltender Lankinen, Forward Welychka Assigned to Indy - Rockford IceHogs
- Marlies and Monsters Meet for First of Three Straight - Toronto Marlies
- Rangers Recall Tim Gettinger from Hartford - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Griffins Set Promotions for Three Home Games Next Week - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Heat Wrap up Three Game Road Trip Tonight in San Diego - Stockton Heat
- Vince Pedrie Reassigned to ECHL Maine - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Coyotes Assign Miska to Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Comets Recall Jagger Dirk from Kalamazoo - Utica Comets
- Oliver Kylington and Ryan Lomberg Recalled from Stockton; Michael Frolik and Michael Stone Placed on IR - Stockton Heat
- Game Preview: Bears at Phantoms, 7:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Sound Tigers Ready for Post-Thanksgiving â??Three-In-Three - Bridgeport Islanders
- Thunderbirds Embark on Three-Game Weekend - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Devils Fall to Crunch, 4-1 - Binghamton Devils
- Wolves Add Hyka, Move Carr to Vegas - Chicago Wolves
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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