(Photos Courtesy Jon Tenca/Puck Stopper Photography)
Phantoms Spoil Thunderbirds' Season Opener
The Thunderbirds kicked off their inaugural AHL season on Saturday in Allentown, Pa. against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Despite a strong second and third period effort, an early 3-1 deficit was too much for Springfield to overcome in a 4-2 Phantoms victory.
Anthony Greco made history by scoring the first goal in the history of the Thunderbirds' franchise when he banked a right-wing corner shot off the backside of Phantoms goalie Anthony Stolarz late in the first period. Dryden Hunt added the first power play goal in team history in the third period. It was the 20-year-old Hunt's first AHL goal; the undrafted forward led all players in the Western Hockey League with 58 goals in the 2015-16 season.
Thunderbirds Bounce Back, Earn First Victory in Bridgeport
Brody Sutter (#19, pictured) and MacKenzie Weegar had a hand in each of the Thunderbirds' goals in a 2-1 victory on Sunday afternoon over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at Webster Bank Arena. Weegar's goal came a day after he hit two of four Springfield posts in Allentown.
Sutter, who was acquired from the Charlotte Checkers, paid early dividends for head coach Geordie Kinnear in what was the bench boss's first AHL victory. Sutter had previously played for Kinnear as a member of the Checkers, where the Thunderbirds head coach served as an assistant coach for the previous six seasons.
At the other end, Reto Berra stopped 17 of 18 pucks to pick up the first victory by a goaltender in Springfield Thunderbirds history.
The Week Ahead for the T-Birds:
The Thunderbirds begin their second weekend of the regular season with a road trip to
face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday, Oct. 21. First puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. and fans can listen on NewsRadio 560 WHYN beginning at 6:50 p.m. ET.
T-Birds Tailgate kicks off Opening Night this Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. ET, but when it comes time for puck drop, the benefits do not stop. Dunkin' Donuts Opening Night Packs are on sale now. Click the banner to reserve yours today!
Defense Zone Seating: Sections 1-5, 28-31
Attack Zone Seating: Sections 13-20
Thunderbirds By The Numbers:
Record: 1-1-0
Road: 1-1-0
Home: 0-0-0
When Scoring 1st: 1-0-0
When Allowing 1st Goal: 0-1-0
Team Leaders:
Goals: 1, four players (Anthony Greco, Dryden Hunt, MacKenzie Weegar, Brody Sutter)
Assists: 1, six players (Brody Sutter, MacKenzie Weegar, Tim Bozon, Chase Balisy, Jakub Kindl, Logan Shaw)
Points: 2 - two players (Brody Sutter, MacKenzie Weegar)
Wins: 1 - Reto Berra
Save Percentage: .944 - Reto Berra
Goals Against Average: 1.01 - Reto Berra
PIMs: 5 - Paul Thompson
+/- : +2 - Brody Sutter
Power Play Goals: 1 - Dryden Hunt
Game Winning Goals: 1 - Brody Sutter
