T-Birds Host Luongo, Seek More Winning Ways
Oct 31, 2019SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Springfield Thunderbirds (6-4-0-0), fresh off a three-game weekend sweep, will look to add to their four-game win streak as they welcome the Hershey Bears (4-3-1-1) on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. before a Saturday 7:05 p.m. matchup with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (4-4-1-0) on Roberto Luongo Night.
The Thunderbirds, AHL affiliates of the Florida Panthers, will honor the longtime Panther netminder Luongo on Saturday in a variety of ways, including a public meet-and-greet on the MassMutual Center concourse from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Luongo's inclusion in the pregame festivities at ice level.
Over his 19-season NHL career, 11 of which came with the Panthers, Luongo finished his career ranked second in NHL history in games played by a goaltender (1,044), third in wins (489) and ninth in shutouts (77). The native of Montreal, Quebec, is one of only three goaltenders in NHL history to have played 1,000 NHL games. Among the seven goaltenders to play in 900 career games, Luongo's career .919 save percentage ranks first.
The five-time NHL All-Star owns a number of Florida Panthers franchise records for goaltenders, including games played (572), wins (230), shutouts (38), saves (16,068), and single-season wins (35). On the international stage, Luongo is also a two-time Canadian Olympic gold medalist (2010, 2014). The Luongo family also has ties to the Thunderbirds, as brother Leo Luongo has served as Springfield's goaltending coach since the club's establishment in 2016.
In the on-ice matchups this weekend, the Thunderbirds begin action sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division with 12 points in 10 games played, trailing only Hartford (17 points in 10 GP) and Providence (14 points in 11 GP).
Over their four-game winning streak, the Thunderbirds offense has come to life, scoring 18 goals, including a combined 12 tallies in victories last Friday and Saturday over Bridgeport (7-4) and Belleville (5-3).
Owen Tippett has catapulted himself to the top of the T-Birds scoring leaderboard with nine points in his first 10 games of his rookie season, placing him second among AHL first-year skaters. Tippett and Kevin Roy combined for 10 points (4g, 6a) in the three-game weekend sweep of the Sound Tigers, Senators, and Americans.
Since his return to Springfield from the Panthers, Henrik Borgstrom has also continued to be an AHL force, as he assisted on Paul Thompson's game-tying third period goal Sunday against Rochester before winning it with an overtime wrist shot on a 4-on-3 power play. In his 27 career AHL games, the 22-year-old Borgstrom has tallied seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points.
Further bolstering the Thunderbirds' hot play of late have been goaltenders Philippe Desrosiers and Chris Driedger, who have each won their last two starts. Driedger set Thunderbirds records for saves in a period (26) and saves in a game (49) in the 2-1 overtime triumph against the Americans on Sunday. Through his first seven starts, Driedger ranks second among AHL goalies in minutes played (420:27) and saves (231) to go along with a sparkling 2.14 goals-against average and .939 save percentage.
Following the two-game weekend against their Pennsylvania-based foes, the Thunderbirds hit the road for five of their next six contests over a two-week period, beginning with a visit to Bridgeport on Wednesday, Nov. 6 for the Sound Tigers' School Day game, with puck drop set for 10:30 a.m.
For more ticket information or to become a 2019-20 Springfield Thunderbirds ticket package member, or to purchase single game tickets, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.