By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The 2026 Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy-winning Providence Bruins had a brutal start to the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup Playoffs with a 3-2 loss in Game 1 against the Springfield Thunderbirds in the Atlantic Division Semifinals this past Friday to trail 1-0 in the series. Now, the pressure of the best-of-five series grows more for Providence ahead of tonight against Springfield.
Game 2 of the Providence-Springfield series continues at Amica Mutual Pavilion, with puck drop scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. Providence is eager to get back in the series with a win on home ice to even up the series.
In Game 1, Providence appeared to have been on the right track to dominate Springfield. Just 3:12 into the game, Providence got an early 1-0 lead after forward Drew Callin scored in his first shift in his team debut. Callin had played four AHL games this season with the Bridgeport Islanders, then signed a PTO contract on April 24 with Providence. Callin’s impact was made immediately for Providence. However, after Callin’s goal, Providence’s rust of not playing a game since April 18 showed against Springfield.
Springfield responded by scoring a power play goal from forward Akil Thomas to even the score before the first period ended. Then, forward Thomas Bordeleau scored 3:40 into the second period to give Springfield a 2-1 lead. Bordeleau’s goal was the only goal of the second period.
The third period saw Springfield score another early goal to begin the period when forward Dylan Peterson scored the team’s third consecutive goal to extend the lead to 3-1 just 3:21 into the period. Springfield forward Dillon Dube recorded his second assist of the game on Peterson’s goal to be the only player in Game 1 who recorded a multi-point game. Providence was desperate in the third period and created better chances against Springfield goaltender Georgi Romanov. However, Romanov stood tall and finished the game with 24 saves, including 12 saves in the third period.
Providence forward Matej Blumel scored a power play goal with 37 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 3-2. However, Blumel’s goal was too little too late to force overtime and a potential comeback win. Providence goaltender Michael DiPietro was named the AHL’s best goaltender and league MVP in 2026, but he made 23 saves in the loss. One player on Providence’s roster who was very quiet in Game 1 was forward Georgi Merkulov, who led the team with 37 assists and 61 points in the regular season. Merkulov recorded no points and no shots on goal in the loss.
One area where Providence has to improve in Game 2 is penalties. In Game 1, Providence had 26 penalty minutes, giving Springfield six power play opportunities. While Providence killed off five of the six Springfield power play opportunities, it cost the team valuable time to generate offensive chances while trailing.
If Providence wins Game 2 tonight, the series against Springfield will be guaranteed to go at least four games. If Springfield wins, the team has a chance to sweep Providence in three games when the series shifts to the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, for Game 3 on Tuesday night.
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