Final 3-in-3 Starts in Rochester Friday

Rochester, NY- The Springfield Thunderbirds (27-27-8-2) will begin their final three-game, three-night weekend on Friday as they visit the Rochester Americans (24-37-0-2) for a 7:05 p.m. ET showdown at the Blue Cross Arena.

Springfield took care of the Americans in the clubs' last meeting on March 12 in Springfield, a 2-0 win for the Thunderbirds behind Adam Wilcox's 26-save shutout. Wilcox has won each of his last four starts, denying 116 of 119 shots in the process. 

Rochester, which sits at the bottom of the North Division standings entering play on Friday, has had a devil of a time scoring goals, with just one tally to their credit in their last 13 periods of hockey. The Americans have been shut out three times in their last four games and have lost five in a row in regulation overall.

Springfield has been riding the red-hot offensive streaks of Anthony Greco (seven points in last six games) and Paul Thompson (eight points in last six games). Springfield will also receive its top defenseman back in the lineup as MacKenzie Weegar has rejoined the Thunderbirds following his first-ever NHL call-up to the Florida Panthers.

The Thunderbirds have taken care of business in their last four three-game weekend situations, going 10-2-0-0 over that stretch. The only team to beat Springfield over that stretch of time is the Providence Bruins. 

In net, Wilcox looks to extend his franchise-best four-game winning streak. Since joining the Thunderbirds, the University of Minnesota alumnus has a goals-against average of 1.66 while also recording a .945 save percentage.

Springfield will return to the Blue Cross Arena on Sunday to close the season series with Rochester for a 3:05 p.m. ET matinee. Before then, though, the Thunderbirds will make the trip over the border for the second of two regular season matchups with the Toronto Marlies on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Interested in being part of the next era of AHL hockey in Springfield? Springfield Thunderbirds 2017-18 Ticket Memberships start as low as $12 per game and feature the most exclusive benefits, including a commemorative jersey and brand new Collectors Mug. For more information, fans may call the Thunderbirds ticket office at (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.