Providence Bruins Defeat Springfield Thunderbirds 1-0

Michael DiPietro records a shutout with 20 saves as Riley Tufte scores the game-winning goal.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:57am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the action of a hockey game, with players and the puck represented as overlapping angular shapes in muted colors.A cubist interpretation of the defensive battle between the Providence Bruins and Springfield Thunderbirds, with the Bruins emerging victorious.Springfield Today

In the final matchup of the season between the Springfield Thunderbirds and Providence Bruins, the Bruins came away with a 1-0 victory. Providence goaltender Michael DiPietro made 20 saves to record the shutout, while Riley Tufte scored the game-winning goal for the Bruins in the third period.

Why it matters

This was an important late-season game for both teams as they jockey for playoff positioning in the AHL's Eastern Conference. The Thunderbirds were looking to bounce back from a recent loss, while the Bruins were aiming to extend their winning streak to three games.

The details

The game was a defensive battle, with neither team able to score in the first two periods. Providence outshot Springfield 20-12 over the course of the game, and their pressure finally paid off when Tufte scored the decisive goal with just over 9 minutes remaining in regulation. Thunderbirds goaltender Georgi Romanov made 31 saves in the losing effort.

  • The game was played on April 13, 2026.
  • Springfield entered the game off a 3-1 loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack, snapping their five-game winning streak.
  • Providence was coming off a 6-3 win over Rochester for their second straight victory.

The players

Michael DiPietro

The Providence Bruins goaltender, who made 20 saves to record the shutout victory.

Riley Tufte

The Providence Bruins forward who scored the game-winning goal in the third period.

Georgi Romanov

The Springfield Thunderbirds goaltender, who made 31 saves in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tight-checking game, and our guys did a great job of staying disciplined and capitalizing when the opportunity presented itself.”

— Jay Leach, Providence Bruins Head Coach

What’s next

Springfield will look to bounce back when they host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday, April 16th. Providence will have a home-and-home series against the Utica Comets, with the first game on Friday, April 18th and the second on Saturday, April 19th.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the strong goaltending and defensive play of both teams, with DiPietro's shutout performance proving to be the difference. The Bruins' ability to capitalize on their opportunities, while the Thunderbirds struggled to generate consistent offense, was the key factor in the outcome.