Springfield, MA – The Springfield Thunderbirds (5-11-1-0) will look to extend their season-long winning streak to four games on Friday night as they play host to the Charlotte Checkers (10-5-0-0) at the MassMutual Center. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. ET.

 

Entering play on Friday, the Thunderbirds have won each of their last three games behind the strength of a power play that has climbed into the top-10 of the AHL, including the second-best home power play in the league (26.9%). Springfield has power play goals in each of its last five games, and the Thunderbirds man-advantage unit is a scalding 7-for-13 in the last three games.

 

The Checkers have dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season, with that slide coming on the heels of a four-game winning streak. Like Springfield, the Checkers' power play has goals in five consecutive games, but only had three opportunities on the power play in a 5-3 loss to the Thunderbirds on Wednesday.

 

For the third straight victory, the Thunderbirds erased a second period deficit in the Wednesday win in the first school day game in team history. Bobby Farnham and Tim Erixon each scored their first goals in a Thunderbirds jersey to propel Springfield from behind 3-2 to ahead 4-3. Alex Grenier sealed the win with an empty net goal, his third point of the night and giving him five points in his last three games.

 

Springfield has five players entering play Friday riding point streaks of two games or more: Erixon (six games, 1g-7a-8p), Denis Malgin (three games, 2g-5a-7p), Grenier (three games, 2g-3a-5p), Farnham (three games, 1g-3a-4p) and Blaine Byron (two games, two power play goals).

 

In net, Harri Sateri has picked up his first two wins as a Thunderbird in back-to-back games, stopping 58 of 64 shots in the process. The Thunderbirds knocked off Charlotte goalie Alex Nedeljkovic on Wednesday to stop the Checkers goalie's winning streak at seven.

 

Tonight marks the conclusion of the Thunderbirds' first of two separate five-game homestands in the 2017-18 season. Springfield next takes to the road for a 3:00 p.m. matinee in Bridgeport on Sunday against the Sound Tigers before embarking on a trek to Pennsylvania to battle the Hershey Bears on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the Giant Center.

 

Springfield Thunderbirds fans are encouraged to visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com to learn more about Thunderbirds Season Ticket Memberships. Packages start at just $12 per game, and Thunderbirds Full Season Ticket Members receive the most benefits, including a refillable collector’s mug and a commemorative jersey. For more information or to order now, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.