The 23-year-old center was called up from AHL Providence Friday morning and will make his NHL debut Saturday night at TD Garden.

Georgii Merkulov was called to the lobby Thursday morning in Utica, New York where the AHL Providence Bruins were gearing up for their upcoming game against the Comets.

The 23-year-old forward was given a change of plans – head to Boston to make his NHL debut and help the Bruins find an offensive spark.

“It’s great, I’m excited. It’s super exciting for me,” Merkulov said Friday following his first practice with the team. “My dad told me to play every game like it’s my last game and just enjoy it.”

The Bruins announced Merkulov’s call-up Friday morning, and sent Patrick Brown back down to Providence.

Merkulov has had a breakout season in the AHL thus far, posting a team-leading 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) through 31 games – including five power-play and three game-winning goals.

What’s been more promising to the coaching staff than Merkulov’s offensive production, though, is the well-roundedness of his play. Merkulov’s scoring upside has always been evident, but it’s the attention to detail in the defensive zone and buying into a team game that has made the Russia native stand out.

“His hockey sense, his ability to get into really good ice and score goals,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “He attacks inside the dots real quick, and that’s what good offensive players do.”

Despite Merkulov’s O-zone prowess, Montgomery made it clear that goal scoring is not the sole reason the youngster got tabbed for a look in the pros.

“The reason he got called up is because of his 200-foot game, not because he’s scoring a lot,” Montgomery said. “On our team we have guys that are paid a lot of money to score goals, and he’s got to come and support that. And be part of what we are trying to build as a team.”

Coming out of training camp, Merkulov said he talked with Providence coach Ryan Mougenel and other staff about specific areas of improvement, including puck hunting, stronger forecheck, and defensive responsibility while still progressing his scoring game.

Merkulov has checked a lot of those boxes while skating on a line with P-Bruins Jesper Boqvist and Justin Brazeau.

“I’ve been playing with great players on my line,” Merkulov said. “They get a lot of pucks back for me too, so that helps a lot.”

Merkulov centered the third line with James van Riemsdyk and Trent Frederic during Friday’s practice, and will likely stick with them Saturday against the New Jersey Devils.

“I remember ‘JVR’ when I was a kid. I was like six years old and he was already in the league. It’s cool to be with him on a line, and he was talking to me all practice so it was exciting,” Merkulov said.

Danton Heinen moved down to the fourth line with Johnny Beecher and Jakub Lauko as a result of Merkulov slotting into the lineup, continuing to be the jack of all trades for the Bruins this season. While Heinen has stayed sturdy in middle and top six minutes recently, he may be able to bring a scoring touch back to the fourth line.

“He maybe doesn’t deserve to be on the fourth line, but that’s what I’m asking of him and to relish that role and help us have four lines that are going to go out and be able to play against New Jersey tomorrow,” Montgomery said.

Merkulov will hit NHL ice for the first time Saturday night at TD Garden where he said his girlfriend and potentially her parents will be in attendance. Merkulov’s parents will be coming to Boston from Russia in a few weeks – a trip that was planned prior to his call-up.

“It’s exciting for him because here he gets the opportunity to play his first NHL game tomorrow, and that’s exciting,” Montgomery said. “That’s good energy to bring to the group as well.”