Hershey, PA – The Springfield Thunderbirds (6-12-1-0) play one final contest before the Thanksgiving holiday on Wednesday night when they pay a visit to the Hershey Bears (8-8-0-2) at the Giant Center.

 

Springfield has yet to defeat the Bears in seven lifetime contests, in addition to going 0-3-0-0 at the Giant Center last season. Hershey narrowly escaped with a win in the first matchup between the clubs this season, a 3-1 win in Springfield on Nov. 8.

 

Since starting the season 1-5-0-1, the Bears have rebounded nicely to go 7-3-0-1 in the last 11 games. They did drop their last matchup in Providence by a final score of 4-1 on Sunday against the Bruins. Pheonix Copley has started three straight games in net for Hershey, making 16 saves on Sunday in the defeat. Copley defeated the Thunderbirds on Nov. 8 by making 21 stops and allowing only an Anthony Greco tally on the evening.

 

The Thunderbirds, like Hershey, have seen their season turn to a more positive light since starting the year 0-6-0-0. Springfield saw its four-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday in a 2-1 loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Sam Montembeault was beaten for the first time in nearly 100 minutes on a second period goal by Ross Johnston, and Bridgeport secured the win with a 5-on-3 goal in the third by Devon Toews.

 

Bobby Farnham broke up Kristers Gudlevskis' shutout bid with less than five seconds to play in regulation, making it 19 straight games that Springfield has not been shut out to begin the 2017-18 season.

 

Springfield will be looking to exorcise its road demons on Wednesday, as the Thunderbirds are still searching for their first win away from the MassMutual Center in 2017-18. The T-Birds have scored only 13 goals in their first eight road games as opposed to 39 on home ice. Springfield does, however, lead all AHL teams with 26 third period goals, while Hershey has allowed a league-high 27 tallies in the final 20 minutes of games.

 

Up front, Alex Grenier finally saw his four-game point streak get cut down on Sunday, but the winger still sits in a tie for sixth among all AHL skaters with 18 points in the first 19 games of the Thunderbirds season.

 

The Thunderbirds and Bears will meet four more times after the tangle in Hershey on Wednesday, with the next meeting taking place on Dec. 29 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Springfield and Hershey also square off Jan. 10 in Hershey, Jan. 17 in Springfield, and March 17 in Hershey to round out the season series.

 

Following the Thanksgiving holiday, the Thunderbirds are next on home ice on Friday for a Black Friday, Nov. 24 tangle with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at 7:05 p.m. ET. Springfield stays on home ice for one final Sunday game at the MassMutual Center against the Hartford Wolf Pack at 3:05 p.m. on Nov. 26.

 

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 visitwww.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.