T-Birds Tangle with 1st Place Penguins Saturday

Springfield, MA – The Springfield Thunderbirds (3-2-0) saw their three-game winning streak come to an end Friday, but they get a chance to start a new streak on Saturday as they welcome the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (4-1-0) to the MassMutual Center for a 7:05 p.m. ET puck drop.

 

It is the second meeting of the young season between the two clubs. In their first meeting on Oct. 21, Reto Berra stopped all 23 shots he faced in a 1-0 Springfield victory at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Ryan Horvat's first period goal stood up as the lone marker on the night. The Penguins have promptly rebounded from that defeat to win each of their last three games, including a 3-1 defeat of the then-unbeaten Albany Devils on Wednesday.

 

Rookie forward Jake Guentzel has paced the Penguins' offense, scoring two goals and four assists in his first five games this season. The Penguins have also allowed a league-low six goals through their first five games. Tristan Jarry has won three of his first four starts in goal, posting a .950 save percentage.

 

For the Thunderbirds, Berra lost his first game of the season Friday despite making a season-high 25 stops in a 5-1 loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. 

 

One silver lining for the Thunderbirds on Friday was that the power play finally struck for the first time since the season's opening game on Oct. 15, as Logan Shaw scored on a late 5-on-3 for his first goal of the season. Prior to Shaw's power play goal, the Thunderbirds season began with just one man-advantage goal in their first 26 attempts.

 

 

The Penguins' power play has also endured its early season struggles, going just 3-for-25 in their first five contests. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, does however possess the league's best penalty kill, going 23 of 24 while scoring three shorthanded goals in the early season.

 

Saturday night's contest at the MassMutual Center marks T-Birds Trick or Treat night at the nest, with Halloween themed activities and trick-or-treating for families and kids along the main concourse. Tickets are available by visiting www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com or by calling (413) 739-GOAL (4625). 

 

Interested in being part of the next era of AHL hockey in Springfield? Springfield Thunderbirds Season 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).