T-Birds Close Final 3-in-3 with Rematch in Rochester

Rochester, NY- The Springfield Thunderbirds (27-28-9-2) will look to salvage a victory in their final 3-in-3 this season as they visit the Rochester Americans (26-37-0-2) at the Blue Cross Arena for a 3:05 p.m. ET Sunday matinee.

The Thunderbirds have seen their offense sputter ever since they raced out to a 3-1 lead in Rochester on Friday midway through the second period. Since that time, Springfield's only goal came off the stick of Jared McCann late in the third period of the club's 4-1 loss on Saturday in Toronto to the Marlies.

Rochester, meanwhile, has seen a complete reversal of its offensive fortunes this weekend. Derek Grant scored two goals to force overtime Friday against Springfield before Cole Schneider picked up the game's deciding goal in 3-in-3 play.

To follow up his stellar Friday night, Grant added a hat trick on Saturday in yet another come-from-behind win for Rochester, 5-4 over the Binghamton Senators. Trailing 3-2 entering the third period, Rochester tied the game thanks to Grant's third goal of the night with less than five minutes to play, and moments later, Nick Baptiste sealed the win for the Americans with less than two minutes to go.

Before this weekend, Rochester was 1-34-0-0 when trailing after two periods. On Friday and Saturday, the Americans erased second intermission deficits en route to back-to-back wins on the heels of a five-game losing streak.

Springfield has not been swept in a 3-in-3 weekend series since dropping three in a row since early February, and today's tilt marks the final game for Springfield in three-game weekend sets this year. So far, the Thunderbirds record in 3-in-3's sits at 16-15-4-0.

After the conclusion of this road swing, the Thunderbirds are back on home ice at the MassMutual Center for Atlantic Division tangles with Bridgeport on Wednesday, March 29, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday, March 31, and Providence on Saturday, April 1. All games drop the puck at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Interested in being part of the next era of AHL hockey in Springfield? Springfield Thunderbirds 2017-18 Ticket Memberships start as low as $12 per game and feature the most exclusive benefits, including a commemorative jersey and brand new Collectors Mug. For more information, fans may call the Thunderbirds ticket office at (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.