T-Birds Continue Road Swing in Rochester, Toronto

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (28-31-5-1) will check off stops three and four on their season-long, five-game road trip on Saturday and Sunday, as they visit the Rochester Americans and Toronto Marlies respectively.

 

Springfield has yet to win a game in three combined tries in the two North division cities. The Thunderbirds fell by final scores of 4-3 in overtime on March 24 and 2-0 on March 26 of last season. The Americans are on the verge of returning to the Calder Cup Playoffs, with 76 points entering the weekend, after missing the postseason in each of the last three years.

 

The Thunderbirds fell in their lone other meeting with the Americans this season by a final score of 2-1 on Dec. 8 in Springfield. Max Fortunus scored his first goal as a Thunderbirds to avoid the shutout on a night when Linus Ullmark made 18 saves on 19 shots. In two prior visits to the Blue Cross Arena, the Thunderbirds are 0-1-1-0.

 

Springfield will go from Rochester to Toronto to close their season series at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday at the Ricoh Coliseum against the Marlies. The Thunderbirds also fell by a narrow 2-1 score at the hands of the Marlies on Oct. 15 in Springfield. Kasimir Kaskisuo stopped 26 of 27 for Toronto in the win, and Mason Marchment picked up the game winner that afternoon.

 

The Thunderbirds will feature a new-look lineup with the additions of defenseman Colton Saucerman and forward Joel Lowry on tryout contracts. Saucerman has already skated with Ontario and Providence this season, and also played in four games with Springfield in the 2016-17 season. The Northeastern product has put up 41 points in 57 games in the ECHL with the Manchester Monarchs this season.

 

Lowry has played in 33 games this season for the Monarchs, tallying 39 points for a pace of over a point per game. He has skated in 82 career AHL games with the Ontario Reign and Utica Comets.

 

Following the weekend games and a Wednesday night encounter in Hartford on March 28, the Thunderbirds return home for 7:05 p.m. matchups on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31 against Bridgeport and Utica respectively. Saturday marks the second annual Pucks N' Paws Night, presented by Dave's Soda & Pet City to benefit the Foundation for TJO Animals.

 

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.