T-Birds Pay Lone Visit to Laval Friday

LAVAL, QC - The Springfield Thunderbirds (30-34-5-2) will look to build upon their 2-1 win in Belleville in Wednesday by paying a visit to Place Bell on Friday in a matchup with the Laval Rocket (24-39-7-2) at 7:30 p.m. ET.

 

Springfield's lone other matchup with the Rocket came in front of a sold out MassMutual Center on Nov. 11 for David Ortiz Night. The Thunderbirds responded to the raucous home crowd despite spotting the Rocket a 3-0 lead through 20 minutes.

 

The T-Birds came out flying in the second period, getting three goals in the stanza to tie the score. Goals in the third by Curtis Valk and Denis Malgin would put Springfield ahead to stay on that night. Sam Montembeault stopped 32 shots against the team from his home province, and the Springfield power play excelled, going 2-for-4.

 

Additionally, the Thunderbirds' PK was outstanding in their lone matchup with Laval, going 6-of-7 against one of the top power play units across the AHL.

 

The Thunderbirds began this Canadian road trip with a narrow 2-1 squeaker over the Belleville Senators on Wednesday evening at Yardmen Arena. Valk and Tim Erixon scored power play goals in the first and third period to give Springfield a 2-0 lead into the closing moments, but Belleville rallied 10 seconds after Erixon's tally to draw the score to 2-1.

 

In the end, Harri Sateri would pick up his second consecutive win, denying 33 of 34 Senators shots. He has stopped 72 of the last 73 shots he has faced in the process.

 

Following Friday's tilt in Laval, the Thunderbirds have just two road contests left in the 2017-18 season: a 5:00 p.m. tilt to close the I-91 series with Hartford on Sunday, and a 3:00 p.m. ET matinee in Providence on April 15 to close the season.

 

The Thunderbirds return home on Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14 for Fan Appreciation Weekend, featuring the final 3-2-1 Friday and MGM Springfield Pregame Concert Series to start the weekend. Then on Saturday, the fun begins at Court Square from 4-6 p.m. for a Block Party, presented by Community Bank. Then inside, there will be 2,500 Boomer Bobbleheads as a special giveaway, compliments of Stop & Shop.

 

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.