Springfield, Massachusetts – The Iowa Wild aim to complete a weekend sweep of the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday evening at the MassMutual Center. Following a 2-0 shutout victory on Friday, the Wild (18-30-4-1) look to continue their recent success against the Thunderbirds (22-26-5-2) and build momentum as the American Hockey League season progresses.
The matchup pits a Wild team finding its stride against a Thunderbirds squad battling for position in the Eastern Conference. Iowa’s recent form has been encouraging, having won five of their last six games, but they’ll face a Springfield team eager to defend their home ice and avenge Friday’s defeat. The game is scheduled for a 5:05 p.m. CT puck drop and can be watched on AHLTV on FloHockey or listened to on 1460 AM and 106.3 FM on KXnO.
Wild Shutout Thunderbirds in Series Opener
Cal Petersen was the story on Friday night, delivering a stellar performance with a 28-save shutout against the Thunderbirds. Gerry Mayhew opened the scoring just 1:58 into the contest, with Ryan Sandelin sealing the win with an empty-net goal in the final seconds. The Wild’s power play struggled, going 0-for-3, but their penalty kill successfully neutralized both of Springfield’s opportunities. Vadim Zherenko, Springfield’s goaltender, turned aside 25 of 26 shots faced.
Iowa’s Road Success and Special Teams Struggles
Friday’s win marked a significant milestone for the Wild, representing their first victory against an Eastern Conference opponent in 22 games. The last time Iowa defeated an Eastern Conference team was on January 27, 2018, a 3-1 win against the Cleveland Monsters. However, the Wild continue to grapple with special teams issues, currently enduring a seven-game scoreless drought on the power play, going 0-for-21 during that stretch. The team’s overall record stands at 18-30-4-1, with 41 points, even as Springfield holds a 22-26-5-2 record and 51 points.
Series History and Key Players
Historically, the series favors Springfield, with an all-time record of 1-6-0-0 in favor of the Thunderbirds. In the 2024-25 season, Springfield dominated Iowa, winning all four games and outscoring them 19-5. Matthew Peca led Springfield in that series with 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points. Looking ahead, Iowa will travel to Allstate Arena to face the Chicago Wolves on Wednesday, March 11 at 7 p.m.
The Wild will be looking to continue their recent success, having won eight of their last nine games when scoring first. The team’s ability to establish an early lead will be crucial against a Thunderbirds team determined to respond on their home ice.
Fans can identify more information about the Iowa Wild, including ticket purchasing options and team news, at www.iowawild.com. Season tickets for the 2026-27 season are currently on sale.
The outcome of Saturday’s game will have implications for both teams as they navigate the remainder of the AHL season. Iowa will aim to build on their recent momentum and continue their climb in the standings, while Springfield will look to regain their footing and solidify their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
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