SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS at BRIDGEPORT ISLANDERS

WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.

WHERE (both days): Total Mortgage Arena, Bridgeport

WHERE?: The former Arena at Harbor Yard and Webster Bank Arena announced a new 10-year naming-rights deal on March 7 with Total Mortgage, a Milford company.

WEBCAST (both days): mixlr.com/bridgeport-islanders (free audio), watchtheahl.com (subscription video)

RECORDS: Springfield 39-23-6-3; Bridgeport 30-29-7-4

PROMOTIONS: It’s Fan Appreciation Weekend, and $15 tickets are available for both days at bridgeportislanders.com. Friday is also Pride Night.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Bridgeport can clinch a spot in the AHL’s expanded playoffs as early as Friday with a win and losses for Hartford and Lehigh Valley. It could still finish as high as fourth in the Atlantic Division or as low as eighth and last. Veteran RW Chris Terry has 11 points in the past nine games to help Bridgeport climb back into playoff position. Springfield,

the St. Louis Blues’ affiliate, is battling for first place. Former Quinnipiac RW Sam Anas leads the team with 58 points, and anther former Bobcat, C Matthew Peca, is a point behind him.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK at BRIDGEPORT ISLANDERS

WHEN: Saturday, 7 p.m.

RECORD THROUGH THURSDAY:

Hartford 30-31-6-2 (plays Charlotte on Friday)

PROMOTIONS: Fan Appreciation Day for the regular-season finale includes a pregame fan fest and kids zone.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: On the other hand, if the Rangers’ affiliate beats Charlotte on Friday and Bridgeport loses in regulation to Springfield, this game becomes huge. Since a win over Bridgeport in their last meeting on March 6, Hartford is 3-15-1-0, skidding from 12 points ahead of Bridgeport (with two games in hand) to three back (with one game in hand, Sunday vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton). Onetime Bridgeport Sound Tigers Anthony Greco is the Pack’s leading scorer.

UP NEXT: Either a best-of-3 playoff series to be determined, or a long offseason.