T-Birds Begin Vital Road Stretch

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Springfield Thunderbirds (32-19-5-2) take to the road for three games in four nights within the Atlantic Division this week. On Wednesday and Friday, the T-Birds will visit the XL Center in Hartford at 7:00 p.m. for the final two regular-season meetings with the Hartford Wolf Pack (28-20-5-2). The week concludes with a Saturday night visit to the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence for a 7:05 p.m. matchup with the Providence Bruins (28-17-3-6). 

Each of these season series has been split down the middle; Springfield has won five of the 10 installments of the I-91 rivalry this season. In the last meeting between the T-Birds and Wolf Pack in Springfield on Feb. 25, Hartford goalie Keith Kinkaid stole the spotlight and the game, making 44 saves on 45 shots to propel the Wolf Pack to a 3-1 win. Justin Richards scored twice in the final period to erase a 1-0 Hartford deficit en route to the win.

The last time Springfield visited the XL Center, the T-Birds got the better of the Wolf Pack in a 4-2 win on Feb. 11. In his debut with the T-Birds, veteran James Neal scored twice on the power play, while Matthew Peca and Hugh McGing also scored for the visitors. In net, Joel Hofer got the better of Kinkaid, stopping 27 of 29 shots in the T-Birds win. Peca leads all current T-Birds with four goals and seven points in the season series against Hartford.

Each of the T-Birds' last four meetings with the Bruins has come inside the MassMutual Center. Springfield has a 2-2-0-0 mark over those prior contests. The two clubs traded 5-1 wins over one another, with Springfield tallying the win on Feb. 12 before Providence got payback on March 5. Springfield holds a 4-4-0-0 record in the season series against the second-place Bruins, including a 2-1-0-0 record at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Peca and Sam Anas have paced the T-Birds offense against Providence, combining for 16 points over the series.

In net, Charlie Lindgren has gotten the better of Providence in each of his three starts against the Bruins, posting a 1.30 goals-against average and .958 save percentage against Providence.

Each of the three road games this week can be heard on NewsRadio 560 WHYN and seen on AHLTV. Springfield's next home game is set for Saturday, April 2 against the Belleville Senators. Puck drop at the MassMutual Center is set for 6:05 p.m.

For more information on the Springfield Thunderbirds and to learn more about becoming a 2022-23 ticket member, please visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com or call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) to speak to a Thunderbirds representative.