Bridgeport, CT – The Springfield Thunderbirds (11-12-3-2) and Bridgeport Sound Tigers (16-12-0-0) will meet on Wednesday night at the Webster Bank Arena in a battle of two teams that have combined to lose eight straight games, all in regulation. 

Springfield dropped its third straight on Tuesday night in a 5-3 loss in Wilkes-Barre against the Penguins, the AHL's top team. MacKenzie Weegar made a spectacular return from injury, scoring twice for the Thunderbirds in the effort. Weegar had missed the previous ten games dating back to Nov. 25. 

Weegar's two-goal night propelled him to a tie for the team lead in goals scored with six. Tim Bozon also scored for Springfield on a night that saw the Penguins get a hat trick from rookie star and AHL goal-scoring leader Jake Guentzel.

The Sound Tigers, meanwhile, have dropped a season-worst five straight games, with Bridgeport's defense and goaltending sputtering of late. The Sound Tigers have been outscored 25-14 over their five-game slide, losing each game in regulation time. After starting his AHL season a perfect 7-0, rookie goaltender Eamon McAdam has dropped two in a row, allowing five goals against Syracuse on Dec. 17 and five more on Monday night in a 5-2 loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Tonight is the fifth of 12 meetings between Bridgeport and Springfield, with the visiting team winning each of the first four contests. Springfield won twice at Webster Bank Arena in the season's opening month, picking up a 2-1 win on Oct. 16 and a 2-0 triumph on Oct. 30. 

The Sound Tigers, meanwhile, have dominated play in Springfield, winning by finals of 5-1 on Oct. 28 and 3-1 on Dec. 2. The latter was overshadowed by a controversial hit by Bridgeport's Connor Jones onJayce Hawryluk, a hit that knocked Hawryluk out of his first AHL game and has sidelined him ever since. Jones received a four-game suspension from the AHL for his match penalty.

The Thunderbirds have yet to drop four straight games in regulation this season, a fate they can avoid with a win in Bridgeport on Wednesday. The Thunderbirds' schedule intensifies in a busy month of January to follow, with 13 games in just 25 nights, including three against the Sound Tigers in the midst of a busy 12-game season series.  

Springfield returns home to close out 2016 for a New Year's Bash against the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday, Dec. 30 at 7:05 p.m. ET. Tickets are available by visiting www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com or by calling (413) 739-GOAL. 

Interested in being part of the next era of AHL hockey in Springfield? Springfield Thunderbirds 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) or visit www.SpringfieldThunderbirds.com.