Iowa Wild Seek Second Straight Win Over Springfield Thunderbirds

AHL Matchup Pits Two Teams Heading in Opposite Directions

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Iowa Wild (18-30-4-1, 41 points) will look to build on their first-ever win against the Springfield Thunderbirds (22-26-5-2, 51 points) when the two teams meet again on Saturday at the MassMutual Center. Iowa secured a 2-0 victory in the previous matchup on Friday, with goaltender Cal Petersen recording a 28-save shutout.

Why it matters

This game represents an opportunity for the struggling Iowa Wild to gain momentum and potentially climb the standings in the AHL's Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Thunderbirds are hoping to rebound after the loss and maintain their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The details

In Friday's game, Gerry Mayhew and Ryan Sandelin scored for the Wild, while Petersen's stellar performance in net secured the victory. Iowa had previously struggled against Eastern Conference opponents, going 0-21 on the power play in their last seven games. The team scoring first has won eight of Iowa's last nine games, and the Wild have won five of their last six overall.

  • The game is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 5:05 p.m.
  • Iowa secured their first-ever win against Springfield on Friday, March 6, 2026.

The players

Cal Petersen

Goaltender for the Iowa Wild who recorded a 28-save shutout in the previous game against Springfield.

Gerry Mayhew

Forward for the Iowa Wild who scored a goal in the team's win over the Thunderbirds.

Ryan Sandelin

Forward for the Iowa Wild who also scored a goal in the victory over Springfield.

Matthew Peca

Forward for the Springfield Thunderbirds who led the team with 3 goals and 5 assists in the 2024-25 season series against Iowa.

Colten Ellis

Goaltender for the Springfield Thunderbirds who went 3-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .971 save percentage in the 2024-25 season series against Iowa.

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What they’re saying

“We must build on the momentum from last night's win and continue to play with the same intensity and focus.”

— Cal Petersen, Goaltender, Iowa Wild

“Our power play has been a weakness, and we need to find a way to start converting on those opportunities if we want to turn our season around.”

— Gerry Mayhew, Forward, Iowa Wild

What’s next

The outcome of Saturday's game could have significant implications for both teams' playoff aspirations, as Iowa looks to climb the standings and Springfield aims to maintain its position in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

This matchup between the Iowa Wild and Springfield Thunderbirds represents a pivotal point in the season for both teams, with Iowa seeking to build on their recent success and Springfield hoping to rebound from the previous loss. The game will likely come down to which team can capitalize on their scoring chances and play a disciplined, defensively sound game.