2023-24 Springfield Thunderbirds Thread

[glen a richter]

Season starts tonight against the Wolf Pack, I’m expecting a really good one.

TBirds - 4 (Bolduc, Dean, Washkurak, Skinner)
Wolfpack - 0, LGZ

[theohall]

Z doesn't start the opener, inexplicably. T-Birds lose 3-1. Why is Subban even on this team??

[theohall]

T-Birds won 4-3. Walker, Peca, and Gaudette each had 1G and 1A. Bolduc got a goal on an assist from Dean. Zherenko got the win stopping 38 of 41 shots.

[glen a richter]

Subban and the T-Birds got shellacked on Friday. Maybe Zherenko can take over as the formal #1 as he should be?

[glen a richter]

I was looking at the box score of the latest TBirds loss and noticed one of the linesmen was Chandler Yakimowitz. Unless two people in hockey have the same unusual name I guess the former Blues draft pick hung up the stick and decided to move into officiating.

[theohall]

Subban is awful, IMO. I still don't get the signing with the number of Blues goalie prospects. Signing Subban essentially forced one guy to the ECHL and it seems like Springfield is trying to treat him like a #1, instead of Zherenko. With a 3 game weekend, whomever starts Friday, usually starts Sunday. Only thing I can figure is the T-Birds are starting off with a 50/50 split of starts to see who "earns" the job, which I think is insulting to Zherenko considering his performance last season and good training camp. Subban hasn't earned shit being a career sub .900 goalie, which he is continuing to prove to be.

Tonight, Zherenko stopped 33 of 35 in a 3-1 loss. So .934 on the season to Subban's .887. Tells me who should be starting the majority of games.

[glen a richter]

They're going to ride it the way it is until Veteran's Day weekend. Why? Because I'm going to that Saturday game and when they finally decide to give the reins to Zherenko, he'll get the Friday/Sunday and I'll get to see Subban. Lucky me.

[theohall]

And Subban takes another loss. 3-2 loss to LeHigh Valley, although this time, not sure Subban deserves the blame with Springfield only generating 23 shots on goal. The T-Birds need to get their offense straightened out. The catch, if they are using the Blues current system to have Blues prospects ready when they are eventually called up, the offensive output we've seen the past couple of seasons might not be there. Going to have to watch a couple of games one weekend to see what's up.

[theohall]

We'll find out Friday if the T-Birds are doing a straight 50-50 goalie rotation or if they are treating Subban as #1. If Zherenko starts, like he should, it's 50-50. If Subban starts, then Subban is their "#1"

[glen a richter]

Zherenko’s in net tonight, looks like he’ll be the #1 now.

[theohall]

Not necessarily. Had Subban started, he'd be the "#1". Zherenko starting is still a straight 50-50 split with Subban.

At least they won. FA signing of Adam Gaudette is paying dividends since he currently leads the AHL in goals.

[glen a richter]

Heading across the Sound for tonight’s game. Since Zherenko got smacked around yesterday and only played 22 minutes hopefully they roll him back out for a comeback. I don’t want to see Subban.

[glen a richter]

Not a great game, lucky to get out of there with a point. They just couldn’t get anything going offensively, Subban played well. No chance on the regulation goal, just a complete breakdown for a 3 on 1. Dean didn’t play, don’t know why.

[theohall]

After their 3 game losing streak, T-Birds won the last 2. Guadette is still on fire leading the AHL in scoring and goals with a 2 goal night followed by a 2 assist night in those 2 wins. Goaltending is still a straight 50-50 split. I think they are just taking their time in working on Zherenko's development. If they stick with the straight 50-50 split, he will still see more starts than last season (25 games played last season, not all starts, while on pace for at least 36 starts this season). He should be a clear #1 next season in preparation to be Hofer's backup, depending on what happens with Binnington, whose having a good season, until the 'Yotes game, in which 4 of the 5 goals weren't really on him.

[glen a richter]

Can't find it anywhere but Juraj Pekarcik hasn't played in a while and I'm guessing he's injured. Weird he'd be a healthy scratch he was having a strong start to the season.

[theohall]

Still running the 50-50 split in goal. Subban's numbers have improved dramatically and he actually has the better GAA right now, but... he's lost his last 2 starts, in spite of playing well, while Zherenko won his last two including a shutout last Saturday. Zherenko gets the nod tonight.

Dean is playing again and keeps setting up scoring chances, based on the recaps.