Thunderbirds Open at Penguins in Rematch of Division Final
Springfield and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton open the AHL season Saturday, with new Penguin Hugh McGing set to face his former club.
The Springfield Thunderbirds and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins open their 2026-27 seasons Saturday, Oct. 3, at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. Puck drop is 6:05 p.m. Eastern, with the game streaming on AHLTV on FloHockey.
The matchup is a rematch of last spring's Atlantic Division final, when Wilkes-Barre/Scranton ended Springfield's playoff run. Hugh McGing, who signed with the Penguins during the offseason after five seasons in Springfield, is set to make his Penguins debut against his former team.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton announced a 26-player opening-night roster Friday: 15 forwards, nine defencemen and two goaltenders. Kirk MacDonald returns for his third season as head coach.
Springfield's opening roster includes forwards Chris Wagner, Nathan Walker, T.J. Tynan and Oskar Sundqvist, defenceman Calle Rosén, and goaltenders Georgii Romanov and Will Cranley. Steve Ott begins his first full season behind the Thunderbirds' bench.
Both teams play again Sunday, Oct. 4. Springfield visits the Providence Bruins, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton hosts the Hartford Wolf Pack.
- insidetherink.comahl-game-preview-springfield-thunderbirds-at-wilkes-barre-scranton-penguins-with-projected-lines-10-03-2026↗
- wbspenguins.compenguins-release-2026-27-opening-night-roster↗
- wbspenguins.comopening-night-pits-new-penguin-mcging-against-former-team↗
- springfieldthunderbirds.comnews › t-birds-unveil-season-opening-roster↗
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