By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter @BlackAndGold277

The AHL Providence Bruins were on the road last night at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, to play game one of the preseason against the host Springfield Thunderbirds. The top minor-pro affiliate of the Boston Bruins beat the Thunderbirds 4-2 as they gear up for the 2022-23 regular season that starts this coming Friday night at the newly named Amica Mutual Pavilion. Providence and Springfield finish the home-and-home two-game preseason schedule tonight at the former Dunkin’ Donuts Center in downtown Providence, Rhode Island.

After leading the first period in shots 12-8, the visiting Providence team would finish the opening frame down 1-0. At the 14:43 mark of the second period, the Bruins would tie the score at one apiece with a power play goal from forward Georgii Merkulov, who scored his first preseason goal. Merkulov’s first goal of the exhibition schedule was assisted by defenseman Victor Berglund and forward Luke Toporowski.

At the 17:07 mark of the second period, the Thunderbirds got the 2-1 go-ahead goal, but the resilient Providence club came back to tie the game at two apiece with a goal from Toporowski a minute later at the 18:03 mark with the assists going to forward Justin Brazeau and Merkulov. Although the score was tied in the middle frame of last night’s game at the MassMutual Center, Providence dominated with shots on goal in the second period with an 18-4 advantage.

To start the third period on the road, the Providence Bruins got to work quickly, getting the 3-2 go-ahead lead at the 2:55 mark of the final frame from forward and AHL Bruins camp invite Mitchell Fossier. The Fossier goal was assisted by forward, and fellow training camp invite Reid Stefanson. The final goal and eventual game-winner came at the 9:49 mark of the third period when NHL Bruins prospect and forward Curtis Hall increasing the B’s lead to 4-2 with a little more than half a period to go in the game. Hall’s first preseason goal was assisted by forward Alex-Olivier Voyer and forward Samuel Asselin.

Goaltender Brandon Bussi (BUS-EE) got the start last night, stopping 22 of 24 shots for the first Bruins preseason victory. Bussi is currently in competition with Kyle Keyser, and veteran netminder Keith Kinkaid in this short training camp as Head Coach Ryan Mougenel narrows the goaltenders down to two before the season starts next Friday. Bussi could really impress the AHL Bruins coaching staff and stay with Providence. Still, if I had to guess, the former Western Michigan goaltender is most likely headed to the ECHL Maine Mariners to work with veteran recently signed free agent Francois Brassard.

As mentioned above, the Providence Bruins are back at it again tonight against the same Springfield Thunderbirds team. In tonight’s game, the venue shifts to Providence, Rhode Island, as these two Atlantic Division rivals finish the short two-game preseason schedule on home ice.

Providence Bruins Home Game Ticket Information

If you want to get ready for the 2022-23 Providence Bruins regular season home games at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, tickets are currently available exclusively through the purchase of a 22-23 Providence Bruins Season Membership.

Fans can choose from Gold Level (Full Season), Black Level (20 games), White Level (10 games), or FlexTix Season Memberships. To become a member and reserve seats for Opening Night, please visit providencebruins.com/memberships or contact CJ Tsoumakas at 401.680.4738 or tsoumakas@pseagency.com.
Single-game tickets can be purchased at the Providence Bruins official website at providencebruins.com.

Watch the Providence Bruins Home and Road Games Via Live Stream on AHLTV

Also, if any Boston or Providence Hockey fans want to watch the NHL Bruins top minor-pro affiliate in action, please go to the watchtheahl.com website and get an affordable AHLTV package that suits your viewing needs. You can get access to every team in the AHL in the regular season and playoffs for $104.99, Full AHL regular season access with no playoffs for $84.99, or you can pay monthly for only $22.99, and there’s always single-day access for only $7.99.

AHLTV also offers individual team packages of $64.99 for single-team Home and Away games in the regular season, $44.99 for the single-team away games, and finally, $44.99 to watch your team play at home for the upcoming regular season.