SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield Thunderbirds (9-4-0-2) get back to work on Friday as they open a three-game, three-day weekend. They host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (8-6-2-1) on Friday at 7:05 p.m. before welcoming the Syracuse Crunch (9-5-1-0) the next night inside the MassMutual Center for Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Finally, the T-Birds will travel into Connecticut for a battle with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (11-5-2-0) on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at Webster Bank Arena.

 

The Thunderbirds will look to build upon a two-game winning streak that saw them outscore their opponents 12-6 in two games last weekend against Rochester (9-4) and Lehigh Valley (3-2). Michael Hutchinson helped bring home the second of those victories with his first victory in the Thunderbirds goal crease, stopping 29 of 31 shots against the division rival Phantoms.

 

It will be the third matchup of the season for Springfield against the Penguins, with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton taking the victories on Oct. 6 (3-2 SO) in Wilkes-Barre and Nov. 14 (5-1) in Springfield respectively. However, the Penguins will be without Tristan Jarry on Friday, as the goaltender was recalled by Pittsburgh earlier in the day on Thursday. Jarry became the first Penguins goalie to score a goal in team history to cap off the win nine days ago at the MassMutual Center.

 

Saturday will mark the first game of the season between the T-Birds and Crunch. Syracuse has been one of the hottest teams in the AHL of late, going 7-0-1-0 in their last eight contests entering the weekend. The Crunch had started the season with a record of just 2-5-0-0 in their first seven games. Veteran Cory Conacher has led the way with 20 points in just 11 games for Syracuse.

 

The weekend concludes with another visit to Bridgeport, and the Thunderbirds will look to atone for a 5-2 loss on Nov. 3, which at the time was Springfield's first regulation loss of the season. Defenseman Devon Toews has paced the offense for the upstart Sound Tigers with 17 points in 18 games played. The Sound Tigers begin the weekend sitting four points ahead of Springfield in the Atlantic Division standings, but with the Thunderbirds holding three games in hand.

 

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 Lexus 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.