Just back from Boston, Jamie Arniel and Andrew Bodnarchuk will be in the lineup Thursday night when the Providence Bruins play the Lowell Devils at Iorio Arena in Walpole.

Sitting out will be Jeff Penner, Rob Kwiet, Matt Marquardt, Scott Fletcher and Kevin Regan, according to coach Rob Murray.

Arniel, Bodnarchuk, Penner and Regan were sent down by Boston on Wednesday.

Regan will get the start in Springfield on Saturday night in the P-Bruins final exhibition game, Murray said.

The former UNH star, who underwent surgery for a hip-flexor problem during the summer, appears to be ahead of schedule on his rehab. "He's cleared with the doctors and he's cleared with the training staff in Boston,'' Murray said.

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CUTS COMING?

"I could make one or two cuts Thursday night, but we'll see how it goes,'' Murray said after the team skated for 30 minutes Thursday morning.

With Boston playing three games in three nights starting Thursday night, no reinforcements are expected for a few days. "I don't think we'll get anybody until after Saturday night,'' Murray said.

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WINNING START

Adam Courchaine (32 saves), Marquardt and free agents Brian McGuirk, T.J. Fox and Adam Pineault were impressive in Wednesday night's 3-2 win over Springfield, said Murray.

"A lot of guys we're trying to get looks at showed well last night,'' he said.

Pineault, Kwiet and Alain Goulet had the goals.

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IMPACT PLAYER

Former Boston University left winger McGuirk has caught Murray's eye. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder's game is skating, not scoring. He had 2-4-6 totals in 60 games with Syracuse last year.

"I played a third-, fourth-line role last year,'' McGuirk, 22, said on Thursday morning. "Energy guy, checking line guy, which has been my game for awhile. It wasn't a great year, last year, but it was a good learning experience, my first year as a pro. I learned what it takes to play at this level and what it takes to play at the next level.''

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FIGHTING CHANCE

Looks like Guillaume Lefevbre will be offered a contract to play in Providence. Lefevbre had 4-9-13 totals with 206 PIMs in 70 games with Springfield last season. Lefevbre handled himself well last week against Phil Oreskovic in Toronto. Five of Lefevbre's 20 fighting majors last season were against Providence (Jeremy Reich, Johnny Boychuk, Byron Bitz and Jonathan Tremblay, twice).

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ARNIEL ON BOSTON CAMP

"As a 19-year-old, I was pretty happy with how I did (in Boston's camp). I think I definitely improved a lot since last year. They said my improvement has been really great and they said it's good for the coach to get some confidence in me. Just keep working hard and things will come.''

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PENNER ON BOSTON CAMP

"Any time you can be in an NHL camp, get exhibition games in, it's a good experience. You're only going to develop better from that. It's a little disappointing I got sent down this early, but you know what, I didn't play up to par and they had every reason to send me down. I'm just going to try to make the best of it down here, play well and maybe get a shot later in the year ... they said I was almost there.''

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FAMILIAR NAMES

Ryan Stokes, who spent an injury-riddled season in Providence last year, was released by Buffalo. . . . Former St. George's star Shea Guthrie is in camp with Binghamton. So is Brown grad Paul Baier, who also played at St. George's. . . . Martin St. Pierre, who signed with Ottawa after a good year in Providence, was demoted to Syracuse. Former PC winger Pierce Norton is with the Crunch, too.

mdivver@projo.com