Game Preview: Bears at Thunderbirds, 6:05 p.m.

The Hershey Bears continue the 2026-27 season, presented by Penn State Health, as they conclude a two-game set versus the Springfield Thunderbirds at MassMutual Center. 

Hershey Bears (7-5-0-0) at Springfield Thunderbirds (4-4-2-1)
Nov. 7, 2026 | 6:05 p.m. | MassMutual Center
Referees: Damian Figueira (32), Mathieu Menniti (30)
Linespersons: Cameron Carlson (8), Trevor Disbennett (54)

Broadcast Information:
Voice of the Bears Zack Fisch on the call
RADIO: WFVY 100.1-FM, Fox Sports 1460-AM, SportsRadio 98.9-FM & WOYK 1350-AM
WATCH LIVE: AHLTV on FloHockey; AHLTV Freeview (Springfield Broadcast)
LISTEN LIVE: Fox Sports 1460-AM Stream
Radio pre-game coverage begins at 5:35 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT:
The Bears built a 2-0 lead in the first period, but the Springfield Thunderbirds used some strong special teams in the second period to skate away with a 4-2 decision on Friday night at MassMutual Center. It was Springfield’s first win on home ice this season (1-3-2-1), and the T-Birds got goals in the second period from Otto Stenberg on the power play, Oskar Sundqvist shorthanded, and Calle Rosén 4-on-4, while Nathan Walker added a shorthanded, empty-net goal in the third period to seal the win. 

THE AHL TURNS 90:
Today marks the 90th anniversary of the first games in American Hockey League history. To celebrate, all 32 AHL teams will be in action this evening, and it’s only appropriate that the teams representing the two cities with the longest AHL histories in Hershey and Springfield battle this evening. While the Bears didn’t join the AHL until the 1938-39 campaign, Hershey is the oldest continuously operating franchise playing in its original city, and the Bears have won a league-record 13 Calder Cups. 

TWO IN A ROW IN SPRINGY:
Tonight marks the second half of back-to-back games played in Springfield between the Bears and T-Birds. While a pair of games between the teams in Hershey has been a constant, this marks the first time the teams have played back-to-back games at MassMutual Center since Jan. 22 and Jan. 24, 2020. In the first contest, the Bears fell 5-2, but two nights later, Hershey returned the favor with a 5-2 win as veteran forward Matt Moulson scored a pair of goals in his 1,000th professional game. The two teams have never played back-to-back games on consecutive days at MassMutual Center since the T-Birds came into the league in 2016-17.

JONNY B. GOOD:
Hershey forward Jonny Brodzinski tallied his second multi-goal game of the season last night in the loss to Springfield. All four of the veteran forwards' goals this season have been scored in multi-goal performances, with the other coming on Oct. 11 vs. Texas. He is the only Bear with multiple multi-goal games this season. Brodzinski has enjoyed great success in his accomplished AHL career versus the Thunderbirds, scoring 26 points (12g, 14a) in 22 games.

BREAKING THROUGH VS. THE T-BIRDS:
Hershey is hoping to get back in the win column in Springfield this evening after dropping a second straight contest at the MassMutual Center. In addition to last night’s loss, the Bears also fell to the T-Birds on the road on April 3 of last season by a 4-2 score. Hershey needs a win tonight in Springfield to avoid tying their longest road winless streak against the T-Birds (0-3-0-0, set from Jan. 17, 2018 to Jan. 11, 2019). Despite recent results, the Bears are 14-7-2-1 all-time at the MassMutual Center against the Thunderbirds. 

BEARS BITES:
After posting 10 straight periods of allowing just single-digit shots against, Hershey allowed 11 shots in both the first and second period yesterday versus Springfield…With two assists last night, Lynden Lakovic notched a pair of helpers for the second time this season…All three of Oskar Sundqvist’s goals for Springfield have been shorthanded. He leads the league in shorthanded goals, and in his career vs. Hershey, he’s posted 14 points (6g, 8a) in 15 games…Last night marked the first time Hershey has lost a game this season when they did not allow a goal in the first period (6-1-0-0)...Last night’s three goals against in the second period were the quickest three goals allowed this season by Hershey (7:30)...Following tonight’s game, Hershey will play four straight games at home before finishing the month with a pair of games in Charlotte. 

ON THIS DATE IN BEARS HISTORY:
Nov. 7, 2021 – The Bears rallied from a 3-2 deficit at home against the Springfield Thunderbirds to skate away with a 5-3 win at GIANT Center, as Kale Kessy scored his first of the season at 5:06 of the third period, and Joe Snively netted his second of the game with Hershey on the man advantage at 16:51 to put Hershey ahead 4-3. With Springfield netminder Charlie Lindgren pulled for an extra skater, Snively completed the second hat trick of his career with an empty-net insurance marker.