T-Birds Look to Roll Momentum into Bridgeport

Bridgeport, CT– The Springfield Thunderbirds (2-8-1-0) will hit the road to continue their three-game weekend with a visit to the Webster Bank Arena in a matchup with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (4-5-0-0) at 7:00 p.m. ET Saturday.

 

The Sound Tigers have scuffled on home ice to begin the season, falling in two of their first three games at their home rink. Christopher Gibson helped secure a 1-0 Bridgeport decision in Providence last night, shutting out the Bruins by making 27 saves. It was the first Bridgeport shutout dating back to last Feb. 10 of last season.

 

Offensively, rookie Scott Eansor has paced the Bridgeport attack with seven goals, good for a tie atop all rookie goal scorers in the AHL. Gibson and Kristers Gudlevskis have split the goaltending duties, with head coach Brent Thompson having yet to start either goalie in back to back games this season.

 

The Thunderbirds, meanwhile, are coming off their second win of the season, their second five-plus goal performance in a 5-3 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday night at the MassMutual Center. Curtis Valk tallied twice, picking up his second game-winning goal of the year in the process, while Henrik Haapala (three assists) and Dryden Hunt (two assists) each picked up multi-point games.

 

Valk was joined on the scoresheet by Anthony Greco, Jayce Hawryluk and Mike Downing (empty netter). Greco's goal was his second in two games, while Hawryluk's goal was his second in two games against the Wolf Pack.

 

In net, Sam Montembeault picked up his first AHL win thanks to a phenomenal 38-save effort, which included 15 stops in a second period that saw Hartford erase a 2-0 deficit early in the frame. Each of Hartford's three goals past Montembeault came on the power play, while Springfield went 1-for-5 on the man advantage.

 

The Thunderbirds round out the three-game weekend in Hartford as Springfield will rematch with the Wolf Pack for a 5:00 p.m. start. Springfield then returns home for the first of two season-long five-game homestands, beginning with a tangle with the Hershey Bears on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7:05 p.m. ET.

 

Springfield Thunderbirds fans are encouraged to visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com to learn more about Thunderbirds Season Ticket Memberships. Packages start at just $12 per game, and Thunderbirds Full Season Ticket Members receive the most benefits, including a refillable collector’s mug and a commemorative jersey. For more information or to order now, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visitwww.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.