Springfield, MA– The Springfield Thunderbirds (7-5-2-1) look to end a string of three straight losses, including two past regulation, as they host the Providence Bruins (4-6-3-1) for the first of 12 meetings this season. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. ET Saturday at the MassMutual Center. 

 

Before the Thunderbirds and Bruisn drop the puck, the MassMutual Center will play host to a special doubleheader, as the Boston Bruins Alumni Team will play host to a charity game benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County. The game, presented by King Ward Coach Lines and Balise Auto Group, will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET. Fans with a ticket to the Thunderbirds game will also receive admission to the Bruins Alumni exhibition.

 

The Thunderbirds and Bruins are each looking to shake off blown third period leads on Friday night. The Bruins let a 3-1 deficit slip away in an eventual 4-3 Lehigh Valley Phantoms win at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, while the Thunderbirds could not hold a 3-0 or 4-3 lead in a 5-4 overtime loss against the Utica Comets at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. 

 

Springfield has now lost three in a row, but the Thunderbirds have earned points in two of those three games by virtue of reaching overtime. The Bruins, on the other hand, have dropped three of their last four games and have not won back-to-back contests all season long.

The Thunderbirds raced out to a 3-0 lead in the opening 21:02 of regulation in Utica, thanks to goals from Sena Acolatse, MacKenzie Weegar, and Dryden Hunt. 

 

However, the Comets stormed back to get the next three goals to tie the score early in the third. From there, Josh Brown uncorked his first AHL goal on a one-time rocket just over five minutes into the third. It appeared Springfield was nearing victory until Curtis Valk drew a penalty shot call and, in turn, beatMike McKenna over the glove hand to force overtime.

 

In the extra period, Darren Archibald completed a spectacular individual effort for Utica, cutting around a defender and then beating McKenna on a diving backhand try.

 

The Bruins' third period collapse came at the hands of the Phantoms on Friday in Providence. Like the Thunderbirds in Allentown on Nov. 5, the Bruins took a two-goal lead into the final 20 minutes only to see Greg Carey score twice in the period for Lehigh Valley. Scott Laughton completed the Lehigh Valley comeback with an overtime clincher.

 

Springfield enters play on Saturday with 17 points in the standings, two behind the Hershey Bears and six back of first-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

 

Coverage of tonight's tilt with the Bruins and all other Thunderbirds games can be heard on NewsRadio 560 WHYN and via the iHeartRadio app.

 

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).