SPRINGFIELD (Interstat) — The Providence Bruins will visit the Springfield Thunderbirds on Friday in a minor league hockey matchup. Providence enters with a 3-6 record, while Springfield is 3-5. The teams have met once this season, with Springfield taking a 2-0 decision at Providence. Providence has played one more game than Springfield this season.

Providence is looking to build on its most recent result, a 5-2 home win against Utica. Mikey Eyssimont led the Bruins with two goals and three shots on goal in that game, while Jiří Patera made 28 saves on 30 shots and Billy Sweezey added a goal and an assist. Eyssimont has nine goals, one assist and 29 shots on goal over his past six games, including a three-goal, eight-shot performance against Charlotte and a three-goal, five-shot outing at Hershey. He also had a goal and an assist at Hershey and two goals against Utica. The Bruins’ three wins this season have come by scores of 5-2, 6-1 and 6-2.

Springfield’s most recent outing was a 2-1 win at Charlotte. Dylan Peterson scored and had two shots on goal in that victory, Theo Lindstein also scored, and Simon Robertsson recorded an assist. Peterson is the Thunderbirds’ player to watch. Over his past five games, he has one goal, 11 shots on goal and 21 penalty minutes, including a 12-minute outing at Providence earlier this season. Springfield will look to carry that recent road success into its return home. Springfield’s three wins include a 2-0 victory at Providence and a 3-2 overtime win at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The Thunderbirds have the most recent head-to-head advantage after blanking Providence 2-0 in the earlier meeting. Providence will need to solve a Springfield defense that limited it in that game while generating offense through Eyssimont, who has nine goals and one assist over his past six games. Springfield will counter with Peterson and a group that produced a tight win in its last game. The teams will meet again later in the season.

Providence will continue its schedule after this game with a trip to Lehigh Valley, followed by road games at Hamilton and Belleville. Springfield’s upcoming slate includes home games against Hartford and Hershey. The matchup offers both teams a chance to gain ground in the early portion of the minor league season.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Springfield 3, Providence 1. Interstat’s ELO system gives Providence a 58 percent probability to win. Springfield is installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5, and the over/under is 5.5.