By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter @BlackAndGold277
After starting the 2025-26 campaign unbeaten in four games, the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins are back at the Amica Mutual Pavilion tonight to face the visiting Springfield Thunderbirds. Tonight’s puck drop at the Lasalle Street venue in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, is set for 7 pm. If you need last-minute tickets, please use our official StubHub-affiliated link HERE. This evening’s game is the first of 12 contests this year between these two Atlantic Division rivals, and these battles always bring a physical element.
Providence currently sits in the second position in the Atlantic Division rankings with eight points, two behind division and league-leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who are off to a red-hot 5-0 start. The top minor-pro affiliate of the National Hockey League, the Boston Bruins, is one of three teams that remain unbeaten with at least four games played and in regulation.
The visiting Thunderbirds, on the other hand, come into Providence tonight with a 1-3-0 record, sitting in last place in the Atlantic Division. The top minor-pro affiliate of the St. Louis Blues is 1-2-0 on the road so far this year, with their previous win coming on the road at the Giant Center 5-1 against the Hershey Bears on this past Sunday afternoon. On Wednesday night in Hartford, Springfield failed to register any offense on the scoresheet, getting shut out 3-0.
While the offense from the Thunderbirds has been slim, scoring nine goals so far this season, Birds center Nikita Alexandrov leads Springfield with five points (1-4-5), with his only goal coming on the power play. Second on the team is right wing Matt Luff, with four points (2-2-4), who has been the setup guy on the Springfield man-advantage. Third in scoring for the Thunderbirds is rookie defenseman Theo Lindstein (1-2-3), with his first career goal coming on the power play.
For Providence and its season start, you can’t help but notice the team’s offensive structure and the benefit to head coach Ryan Mougenel having a stacked roster. Leading the way for the Bruins is forward Georgii Merkulov with 2-5-7 numbers that rank the 25-year-old, and fourth-year pro seventh in the league in points. Forwards Fabian Lysell and newcomer Alex Steeves both have 3-3-6 numbers in four games, ranking them ninth and tenth, respectively, in the league. Forward Matej Blumel ranks 13th in four games played with 2-4-6 numbers. Finishing up the top-25 in league scoring concerning AHL B’s players, big forward Riley Tufte comes in with the 21st ranking with 3-2-5 numbers in four games.
The Providence goaltending has been up to par so far this season, with Michael DiPietro and AHL rookie Simon Zajicek. Tonight’s home game, I’d expect DiPietro to get his third start of the season at the Amica in Providence against Springfield. The 26-year-old netminder currently has a 2-0-0 record, a goals-against-average of 3.01, along with a save percentage of .910.
Providence player looking to continue point streaks leading up to this evening’s game against the Thunderbirds at home. Merkulov is on a four-game point streak (2-5-7). Blumel is on a four-game point streak (2-4-6). Lysell is on a three-game point streak (3-3-6). Tufte is on a two-game point streak (3-2-5). Captain Patrick Brown is on a three-game point streak (2-3-5). Forward Dans Locmelis is on a three-game point streak (1-2-3). Finishing off those Providence players on streaks is defenseman Billy Sweezey, who’s on a two-game point streak (1-1-2).
The Bruins’ power play has been a bright spot for Providence early in this 2025-26 regular season. Last year, the man advantage took almost half a season to get higher-ranked in the league, but thus far this year has been clicking regularly. The Providence power play is currently ranked third in the league, scoring six goals in 16 chances, good enough for 37.5 percent. The penalty kill, on the other hand, has shown glimpses of improvement but has yet to show consistent efforts to climb up the league rankings. Although it’s early and time to figure out, the Providence penalty kill is ranked 24th league-wide with a 76.9 percent kill ratio, giving up three goals on the team’s shorthanded opportunities this season.
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