T-Birds Look To Halt Slide in Binghamton

Binghamton, NY - The Springfield Thunderbirds (15-16-5-2) will look to return to winning ways away from the MassMutual Center on Saturday as they visit the Binghamton Senators (17-19-2-1) at the Floyd L. Maines Memorial Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.

The Thunderbirds have defeated Binghamton in two of the prior three meetings this season, including a resounding 4-0 win at the Floyd L. Maines Memorial Arena on Nov. 12. Reto Berra picked up his third shutout of the season on that night, stopping 31 pucks in the triumph.

Springfield also won the most recent meeting, 3-1, on Dec. 16 in Springfield. The Thunderbirds were paced by Greg McKegg's two goals and assist.

The Senators and Thunderbirds enter play on Saturday deadlocked at 37 points. Binghamton now sits just three points back of the Utica Comets for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division. By virtue of their loss on Friday to the Sound Tigers, the Thunderbirds now sit five points behind Bridgeport for fifth and 10 points behind the Hershey Bears for fourth place in the Atlantic Division.

Springfield's discipline let them down in the loss on Friday, as Bridgeport struck twice on five different second-period power play opportunities. Bracken Kearns finished the night with two goals and an assist. 

Despite the loss, the Thunderbirds saw a pair of AHL firsts for young prospects Denis Malgin and Jayce Hawryluk on the same play. Malgin, playing in his first AHL game, stepped into the right wing circle and then tucked a perfect pass to the crease, where Hawryluk tapped home his first professional goal in his ninth game.

Springfield also received goal contributions from Matt MacKenzie and Graham Black, who each picked up their second goals of the campaign. One downside for the Thunderbirds was the loss of defensemanBrent Regner, who left the game in the second period and did not return. 

Sam Brittain remains with the Thunderbirds to back up Mike McKenna during the weekend set. McKenna made 31 stops Friday night while facing a barrage of Bridgeport chances, both at even strength and on the power play.  

After the middle game on Saturday against the Sens, Springfield returns home for its first-ever meeting with the Toronto Marlies on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. ET. The night marks a Friendly's Sundae Funday, with ticket packages for a family of four starting at just $44 on www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com. 

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