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The Boston Bruins visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, seeking a third consecutive win after two victories that required overtime or a shootout. Boston is 11-4-1, while Pittsburgh is 5-8-2 overall but 4-1-1 at home; Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin’s status remains uncertain.
The Boston Bruins visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night with a two-game winning streak and a chance to make it three in a row. Boston comes in at 11-4-1 after an overtime win and a shootout victory, while Pittsburgh is looking to respond to a 3-2 loss to Vegas and improve on its 5-8-2 overall record.
Boston’s recent wins have come down to late plays. On Saturday, the Bruins rallied to beat Chicago 5-4 in overtime: Morgan Geekie tied the game with 12 seconds left, and Elias Lindholm scored the winner in the extra period. On Monday, Boston edged the Golden Knights 3-2 in a shootout, with David Pastrnak scoring the deciding goal.
Pittsburgh also played Vegas this week, but lost 3-2 on Tuesday after giving up two third-period goals. The Bruins have scored 57 goals and allowed 38 this season, compared with Pittsburgh’s 48 goals for and 51 against, according to the preview figures. Boston’s power play is listed at 20 percent; Pittsburgh’s is at 18.2 percent.
Forward Matt Poitras could be unavailable for Boston after suffering a broken nose from an elbow to the face by Vegas’ Braeden Bowman. Poitras practiced Wednesday wearing a bubble shield, but the report did not confirm whether he would play. Boston’s James Hagens has six goals, tied for the NHL rookie lead and second on the Bruins; Pastrnak leads Boston with eight.
Boston’s Streak Meets Pittsburgh’s Home Form
The matchup tests whether Boston can keep converting close games into wins. Its latest two victories required extra time, and the team will have to manage another road game while Poitras’ availability is unresolved. The results also suggest a notable contrast in season records: Boston has started strongly overall, while Pittsburgh has struggled across its first 15 games.
The Penguins’ home record offers a counterpoint to their overall mark. They are 4-1-1 at PPG Paints Arena, according to the preview, so Thursday’s game is not simply a meeting between a winning team and a struggling one. Pittsburgh’s home performance makes the venue a relevant part of the matchup, even as Boston arrives with momentum.
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Recent Results Set Up a Tight Rematch
Both clubs are coming off games against Vegas, but with different outcomes. Boston beat the Golden Knights in a shootout on Monday; Pittsburgh lost to them Tuesday after allowing two goals in the third period. The preview also notes that Pittsburgh conceded a last-minute third-period goal in two of its three most recent losses, a detail that points to late-game execution as one area to watch.
Boston’s listed record over its last 10 games is 7-2-1, while Pittsburgh’s is 3-6-1. The published odds put Boston at -110, with the over/under set at 6.5 goals. Those figures describe the market at the time of the preview; they do not determine the result. Thursday’s game is set for 7 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena, with NESN carrying the television broadcast and WBZ-FM 98.5 the radio broadcast.
““[We] expect that he’ll keep going in the right direction.””
— Dan Muse, Penguins coach
Poitras and Malkin Statuses Still Open
The available preview does not confirm whether Matt Poitras will play after his broken nose, despite his participation in Wednesday’s practice with a protective shield. His status could affect Boston’s forward options, but no further details about his availability are provided.
Evgeni Malkin’s status is also not settled in the report. He returned to full-contact practice after missing Tuesday’s game with a lower-body ailment, and Muse expressed optimism. The report does not say whether Pittsburgh had made a final game-day decision or provide further lineup details for either team.
Final Lineups Before Puck Drop
The Bruins and Penguins are scheduled to play Thursday at 7 p.m. ET in Pittsburgh. The next key update is whether Poitras and Malkin are available when the teams confirm their lineups. The game will show whether Boston can extend its run to three wins and whether Pittsburgh can carry its stronger home form into a result against one of the league’s better early-season records.
Key Questions
When and where is Bruins at Penguins?
The game is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. ET at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
Can Boston extend its winning streak to three?
Boston enters with two straight wins, an overtime victory over Chicago and a shootout win over Vegas. Whether it reaches three depends on Thursday’s result.
Will Matt Poitras play?
His status was not confirmed in the preview. He suffered a broken nose and practiced Wednesday wearing a bubble shield.
Is Evgeni Malkin expected to play?
Penguins coach Dan Muse said he was optimistic about Malkin’s availability after the forward returned to full-contact practice. The report did not confirm his final status.
Where can fans watch or listen?
The preview lists NESN for television and WBZ-FM 98.5 for radio.
Source: bostonglobe.com
