Eastern Conference Finals Preview: T-Birds vs. Rocket

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield Thunderbirds will open the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, June 4 at 7:35 p.m. inside the MassMutual Center for Game 1 against the Laval Rocket.

Game 1 tickets can be purchased by clicking here. The full schedule for the Atlantic Division Semifinals is as follows - games marked with an asterisk (*) will be played only if necessary.

• Game 1: Saturday, June 4 - Rocket @ Thunderbirds, 7:35 p.m. - Click Here for Tickets
• Game 2: Sunday, June 5 - Rocket @ Thunderbirds, 5:05 p.m. - Click Here for Tickets
• Game 3: Wednesday, June 8 - Thunderbirds @ Rocket, 7:00 p.m.
• Game 4: Friday, June 10 - Thunderbirds @ Rocket, 7:00 p.m.
• Game 5*: Saturday, June 11 - Thunderbirds @ Rocket, 7:00 p.m.
• Game 6*: Monday, June 13 - Rocket @ Thunderbirds, 7:05 p.m. - Click Here for Tickets
• Game 7*: Wednesday, June 15 - Rocket @ Thunderbirds, 7:05 p.m. - Click Here for Tickets

The T-Birds and Rocket are each in their first-ever postseason as the clubs meet in the AHL's "Final Four." The clubs split a pair of regular-season matchups: Laval emerged victorious in overtime, 4-3, in Springfield on Jan. 14, while the T-Birds bested Laval, 5-2 at Place Bell on March 7. The Rocket arrive in the Eastern Conference Finals after defeating Syracuse three games to two in the opening round and sweeping the Rochester Americans in three games in the North Division Finals.

In each of their first two series victories, Laval received overtime goals in the deciding games. Gabriel Bourque scored in a tense Game 5 overtime against Syracuse, completing a Laval comeback from 2-0 down in the contest to emerge on top, 3-2. Bourque's heroics would not have been possible without a goal by Cedric Paquette in the final minute of regulation to force overtime. In the North Division Finals, it was former Thunderbirds Jean-Sebastien Dea who scored the game-winning goal in triple overtime of Game 3, a 6-5 Rocket win. Laval once again played the role of comeback kids, erasing a 2-0 deficit in the second period. Rochester would retake the lead, 5-4 in the final period, but just as they did in Game 5 at Syracuse, the Rocket got a tying goal with the goaltender pulled with less than two minutes remaining. 

Springfield is the only team in the AHL that has yet to drop a game in the postseason, posting a perfect 6-0 record. The T-Birds have also not needed overtime in either of their first two series, during which time they have outscored the Penguins and Checkers by a combined score of 32-13. Sam Anas enters the Conference Final round tied for the league lead in points with 13 over his first six postseason appearances. Will Bitten and Matthew Peca have each added nine points over that time frame. Springfield's 5.33 goals-per-game average is the highest in the Calder Cup Playoffs entering the Conference Finals.

On top of their potent offensive exploits, the T-Birds also boast the league's best goaltender thus far in the playoffs, as rookie Joel Hofer has been stellar in going 4-0 to begin his pro playoff career. His .962 save percentage and 1.51 goals-against average figures both sit atop the league statistics for netminders. Hofer won all three games against the Checkers, stopping 116 of 120 shots, including a 35-save shutout in a 6-0 Game 1 victory. Charlie Lindgren has also returned to the T-Birds following a brief stint in St. Louis with the Blues during their playoff series against Colorado. Lindgren won each of his two starts in the series against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which included a brilliant 50-save performance in Game 1 of that series.

Adding more firepower to Springfield's attack is Calle Rosen, who returns to Springfield for the first time in the postseason after the Blues were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In 40 regular-season games, Rosen had 28 points (4g, 24a) with the T-Birds. Rosen figures to be just another weapon for the T-Birds' red-hot power play, which enters the third round with an incredible 37.9% success rate through two rounds, scoring on 11 of 29 man advantages through their first six playoff games. Springfield has recorded at least one power-play goal in every postseason game, including multiple power-play goals in four of those six contests. Springfield's penalty kill and team discipline have been every bit as impressive, as Drew Bannister's team has killed off 19 of 22 man advantages against, a clip of less than four opponent power plays per game in the Calder Cup Playoffs. 

The Rocket's offensive attack has been led by another former Thunderbird, Danick Martel, who has posted six goals and eight points over Laval's eight playoff games. Dea has posted seven points in that time, while a pair of defensemen, Sami Niku and Louie Belpedio, have combined for 15 points thus far in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Niku's five power-play assists are tied with Anas for the most in the postseason among all AHL skaters. Unlike the T-Birds, Laval has leaned heavily on one goaltender in the playoffs, as 22-year-old Cayden Primeau has drawn seven starts out of Laval's eight playoff games. The former Northeastern Husky is 6-1 in the postseason for the Rocket with a 1.93 goals-against average and .936 save percentage. He is the son of former Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Philadelphia Flyers center Keith Primeau. 

Thunderbirds playoff tickets are on sale now! To purchase your seats, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.