Springfield Thunderbirds (0-0-0-0, 0 pts) at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (0-0-0-0, 0 pts)

Venue: Mohegan Sun at Casey Plaza
Date: Saturday, October 3
Time: 6:05 PM EST
TV: FLO Sports

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

Springfield Thunderbirds News & Notes:

The Thunderbirds finished last season 32-32-6-2, taking the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. They shocked a lot of people with a deep playoff run, eliminating the Checkers, then the AHL’s best team in Providence, before the Penguins ended their season in the division finals. They went 1-3-0-0 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the regular season, averaging 2.5 goals per game.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News & Notes:

The Penguins went 46-17-7-2 with 101 points and were one of the best in the AHL, finishing third in the AHL. They followed that up with a run to the Eastern Conference Finals, eliminating Hershey and Springfield before the Calder Cup Champion Marlies eliminated them. They went 3-1-0-0 against Springfield in the regular season, averaging 4.3 goals per game.

Springfield Thunderbirds Opening Roster:

Forwards

8 – Justin Carbonneau
12 – Nathan Walker
13 – Kale Kessy
17 – T.J. Tynan
18 – Juraj Pekarcik
21 – Jakub Stancl
22 – Dylan Peterson
25 – Sam Strange
26 – Simon Robertsson
28 – Otto Stenberg
37 – Jack Finley
41 – Aleksanteri Kaskimaki
70 – Oskar Sundqvist
71 – Nikita Susuyev
88 – Chris Wagner

Defensemen

5 – Colin Ralph
6 – Lukas Fischer
9 – Michael Buchinger
16 – Ryan Wheeler
42 – Quinton Burns
43 – Calle Rosen
45 – Marc-Andre Gaudet
48 – Arseni Koromyslov

Goalies

30 – Georgi Romanov
40 – Will Cranley

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Opening Roster:

Forwards

2 – Rutger McGroarty
8 – Oliver Okuliar
23 – Bill Zonnon
24 – Hugh McGing
26 – Tristan Broz
36 – Max Graham
40 – Tanner Howe
43 – Melvin Fernstrom
48 – Rafael Harvey-Pinard
53 – Lucas Ciona
64 – Tiernan Shoudy
70 – Mikhail Ilyin
74 – Daniel Russell
83 – Brayden Edwards
84 – Atley Calvert
85 – Avery Hayes

Defensemen

4 – Jake Livanavage
38 – Owen Pickering
44 – Chase Pietila
45 – Harrison Brunicke
50 – Finn Harding
52 – Phil Kemp
54 – Maleek McGowan
56 – Ryan Mast
82 – Caleb Jones

Goalies

30 – Joel Blomqvist
33 – Taylor Gauthier
35 – Gabriel D’Aigle

Players To Watch:

Springfield Thunderbirds

Chris Wagner led the team in points and goals with 50 points and 24 goals. Calle Rosen finished the season with 29 assists; 23 of those came after he was acquired by Springfield. Otto Stenberg led in plus/minus with a plus-two. Georgi Romanov returns after going 9-12-3 with a 3.29 goals-against average, an .896 save percentage, and a shutout. He led Springfield on their deep playoff run, going 7-4-0 with a 1.84 goals-against average, a .939 save percentage, and two shutouts.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Ville Koivunen finished second in points with 41 but is the returning team leader. Koivunen also led the team in assists with 28. Avery Hayes led in goals with 24. Finn Harding led in plus/minus with a +32. Joel Blomqvist takes over in goal after going 16-5-4 with a 2.40 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage, and a shutout.

Next Game:

Springfield: October 4 at Providence Bruins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton: October 4 vs. Hartford Wolf Pack