By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The first two games of the 2026 Atlantic Division Semifinals between the Providence Bruins and Springfield Thunderbirds were played in Rhode Island’s capital. For the next two games, the series shifts to Springfield, Massachusetts, and the first one is absolutely pivotal between Providence and Springfield.
Game 3 between Providence and Springfield is tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET at MassMutual Center. The winner of tonight’s game will take a 2-1 series lead and will have a chance to clinch the series on Thursday night in Game 4.
Both games in the Providence-Springfield series that were played at Amica Mutual Pavilion were close. In Game 1, Springfield scored three unanswered goals to defeat Providence by a final score of 3-2 this past Friday. The loss hurt deeply for Providence, considering forward Drew Callin scored 3:12 into the game, to give the team an early 1-0 lead. Then, Providence was flat for the rest of the game against Springfield. Looking to avoid going down 0-2 in the series, Providence got itself a much-needed 2-1 win in Game 2 this past Sunday to even the series at one.
Forward Matej Blumel scored 8:34 into the game to give Providence a 1-0 lead. Blumel has had a hot start in the playoffs, scoring a goal for Providence in each game. After Blumel’s goal, Providence had the same thing happen in Game 2 as it did in Game 1, where Springfield scored a power play goal to tie the game. Springfield forward Dillon Dube scored a power play goal 2:56 after Blumel’s goal to tie the game at one.
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Unlike Game 1, Providence’s offense responded quickly after Springfield tied the game in the first period. After having Calder Cup Playoff struggles throughout his whole career, forward Georgii Merkulov scored his first career American Hockey League playoff goal 2:32 later after Dube’s goal to give Providence a 2-1 lead. Before Game 2, Merkulov scored no goals in the first ten AHL Playoff games he played in for Providence, so the monkey got off his back at last.
After the first period, Providence and Springfield would get chippy for the rest of the game. In the second period alone, ten combined penalties were called on both teams. Even with getting called for penalties deeply in the final 40 minutes of the game, Providence successfully killed off the next five Springfield power play opportunities after Dube’s power play goal. Providence goaltender Michael DiPietro was terrific, making 27 saves, including 14 saves in the third period, to help his team to victory. Even in defeat, Springfield goaltender Georgi Romanov was solid, making 29 saves.
With the series now being played in Springfield, it’s time to see how Providence fared playing at MassMutual Center this season. Providence won four of the six games it played at Springfield. In the last game at Springfield, Providence won 2-1 on March 25. Forward Riley Tufte and defenseman Jake Schmatz scored the goals, and DiPietro made 25 saves to help Providence earn the win that game.
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