
Thunderbirds Visit Wolf Pack Sunday for Final Time in 2017-18 Season
April 7, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Thunderbirds News Release
HARTFORD, Conn. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (31-34-5-2) close another rivalry series on Sunday when they visit the Hartford Wolf Pack for a 5:00 p.m. ET puck drop from the XL Center.
The I-91 rivalry has once again gone in Springfield's favor for much of the 2017-18 season, going 7-3-0-1 in the first 11 matchups this season. The Thunderbirds fell 4-3 in a shootout in the last meeting between the two teams on March 28. Scott Kosmachuk recorded the shootout's deciding goal for Hartford, while Springfield got goals in regulation from Chase Balisy, Dryden Hunt, and Joel Lowry.
Harri Sateri, who is coming off a third consecutive win after making 23 saves in Laval, took the loss that evening for the Thunderbirds, stopping 29 of 32 shots in regulation and overtime. In his last three starts, Sateri is unbeaten and has stopped 95 of the last 97 pucks that have come his way.
Overall, the Thunderbirds have won three of their last four games, highlighting their Canadian road trip this week with 2-1 and 5-1 wins over Belleville and Laval, respectively. Owen Tippett made a splash in his Thunderbirds debut, spinning a backhander through Zach Fucale in the first 10 minutes of his first game in Laval.
Alex Grenier also reached a milestone in his hometown in the win Friday against the Rocket, recording two goals and an assist to reach 20 goals on the season for the first time in his AHL career.
Springfield will look for its first win in Hartford since Josh Brown scored a game-winner in the closing seconds of regulation in a 5-4 Thunderbirds win on Dec. 30.
The Thunderbirds return home on Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14 for Fan Appreciation Weekend, featuring the final 3-2-1 Friday and MGM Springfield Pregame Concert Series to start the weekend. Then on Saturday, the fun begins at Court Square from 4-6 p.m. for a Block Party, presented by Community Bank. Then inside, there will be 2,500 Boomer Bobbleheads as a special giveaway, compliments of Stop & Shop.
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 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 April 7, 2018
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- Crunch Blank Comets, 1-0 - Syracuse Crunch
- Penguins Win Big in Kostopoulos' Final Home Game - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Rodewald Seals Senators Win over Laval in Shootout - Belleville Senators
- Rangers Assign Lias Andersson, Filip Chytil, and Steven Fogarty to Hartford - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Slow Start Dooms Devils in 7-4 Loss to Pens - Binghamton Devils
- Lettieri Lifts Pack in OT - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Bridgeport's playoff hopes come to an end in Saturday's setback - Bridgeport Islanders
- Varone Late Goal Pulls Phantoms One Point Closer to Division Title - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- P-Bruins Back in the Postseason for Sixth Straight Season - Providence Bruins
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Clinches 16th-Straight Playoff Berth - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Kings Recall Forward Jonny Brodzinski from Ontario - Ontario Reign
- Kuokkanen's Five Points Sink Bears in 7-3 Loss at Charlotte - Hershey Bears
- Crunch Outlast Comets in Goaltending Duel - Utica Comets
- P-Bruins Beat Sound Tigers to Clinch Postseason Berth - Providence Bruins
- Checkers Clinch Playoff Berth with 7-3 Rout of Bears - Charlotte Checkers
- Tynan Earns Tim Breslin Unsung Hero Award - Chicago Wolves
- Anaheim Ducks Sign Olle Eriksson Ek to Three-Year Entry-Level Contract - San Diego Gulls
- Checkers Clinch Spot in Calder Cup Playoffs - Charlotte Checkers
- Barracuda Score Four in the Third, Beat Stockton 7-3 - San Jose Barracuda
- Dube Records First Pro Point and Multi-Point Game in Heat Loss - Stockton Heat
- Thunderbirds Visit Wolf Pack Sunday for Final Time in 2017-18 Season - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Game #65 Preview: Tucson vs. Grand Rapids - Tucson Roadrunners
- American Hockey League Announces Suspension - AHL
- Moose Sign Jordy Stallard - Manitoba Moose
- Coyotes Recall Hanley from Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Syracuse Crunch Recall Forward Troy Bourke from Adirondack Thunder - Syracuse Crunch
- Wolf Pack Announce Roster Additions - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Road Trip Rolls into Rochester - Toronto Marlies
- Englund Recalled by Ottawa - Belleville Senators
- Game Day Build-Up: Senators vs. Rocket, April 7 - Belleville Senators
- Game Preview: Final Road Trip of Season Starts Tonight in Charlotte - Hershey Bears
- Checkers Have Two Playoff Clinching Scenarios Tonight - Charlotte Checkers
- Rocket Fall 5-1 to Springfield Thunderbirds - Laval Rocket
- Home Ice Claimed as Roadrunners Blank Defending Champs - Tucson Roadrunners
- Griffins Blanked in Desert, 3-0 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- 'Cuda Keep Playoff Hopes Alive with 6-2 Win at Stockton - San Jose Barracuda
- Svedberg Shootout Sorcery Stretches Hogs' Win Streak - Rockford IceHogs
- Gulls' Power Play not Enough in 3-2 Setback - San Diego Gulls
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- Iowa Gets Back in Win Column with 7-3 Victory vs. Chicago - Iowa Wild
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