Wild and Thunderbirds Battle in Rematch with Playoff Implications

Springfield, MA – The Iowa Wild and Springfield Thunderbirds face off in a crucial American Hockey League (AHL) contest at the MassMutual Center on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 5:05 p.m. ET. This game marks the second of a two-game series, following Iowa’s 2-0 victory on Friday night.

Series History

While this is a relatively new rivalry, the Iowa Wild have historically struggled against the Springfield Thunderbirds. Prior to the 2024-25 season, the two teams had never met. Iowa now holds a 1-6-0-0 all-time record against Springfield, with a 1-2-0-0 record in Springfield. Friday’s win was the first in franchise history against the Thunderbirds.

Recent Performance

Iowa entered the weekend series with a record of 18-30-4-1 (41 points), while Springfield boasts a 22-26-5-2 record (51 points). The Thunderbirds dominated the first season series in 2024-25, winning all four games and outscoring the Wild 19-5. Matthew Peca led Springfield with 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists) in those matchups and goaltender Colten Ellis went 3-0-0 with a remarkable 1.00 goals-against average and .971 save percentage.

Key Game Notes

• Iowa’s Eastern Conference Struggles: Friday’s victory snapped a lengthy losing streak for the Wild against Eastern Conference opponents. Iowa had not defeated an Eastern Conference team since January 27, 2018, a 3-1 win at Cleveland.
• Power Play Woes: The Iowa Wild are currently mired in a power play slump, having failed to score a power play goal in seven consecutive games, going 0-for-21 during that stretch.
• First Goal Advantage: The team that scores first has won eight of Iowa’s last nine games, highlighting the importance of early momentum.
• Recent Success: The Wild have won five of their last six games, demonstrating a recent surge in performance.
• Petersen’s Shutout: Cal Petersen recorded a 28-save shutout for Iowa on Friday, marking a significant defensive performance. Vadim Zherenko turned aside 25 of 26 shots.

How to Watch and Listen

Fans can watch the game on AHLTV on FloHockey (https://FloHockey.tv). Radio coverage will be available on 1460 AM, and 106.3 FM on KXnO.

Ticket Information

For ticket information and updates on the Iowa Wild, visit www.iowawild.com or contact the ticket department at 515-564-8700 or tickets@iowawild.com. Season tickets for the 2026-27 season are currently on sale.