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The Boston Bruins visit the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7 p.m. Thursday at PPG Paints Arena, with goaltender Michael DiPietro named as Boston’s starter. Boston has won two straight, but forward Matt Poitras will miss the game after breaking his nose; Pittsburgh enters after a loss and could have Evgeni Malkin available.
The Boston Bruins visit the Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday at 7 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena, with Michael DiPietro set to start in goal for Boston. The Bruins enter on a two-game winning streak, while forward Matt Poitras is out with a broken nose and defenseman Frederic Brunet is returning to the lineup.
DiPietro, 27, last played Saturday, when Boston beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime. He has a 2.26 goals-against average and .929 save percentage through four games this season, according to the Bruins’ preview. Boston’s latest win was a 3-2 shootout result over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.
Brunet will play for the first time since Oct. 27, joining Mason Lohrei on the third defense pair. Jonathan Aspirot and Connor Clifton are listed as scratches. The 23-year-old rookie has four points in 10 games, with one goal and three assists.
Poitras broke his nose after taking an elbow to the face Monday. He practiced Wednesday wearing a bubble shield, but will sit out Thursday. Sean Kuraly is expected to center the fourth line in his place. Coach Marco Sturm said Kuraly had a procedure Wednesday and was still recovering, though he could play if needed.
Boston’s Goaltending and Lineup Changes
Thursday’s matchup tests whether Boston can extend its winning run while making changes at both ends of the lineup. DiPietro’s season numbers offer a snapshot of his performance through four appearances, but he has not played since Saturday. His start gives him a chance to build on that record against a Pittsburgh team whose coach Sturm described as fast and strong at home.
The forward change is also relevant to Boston’s depth. With Poitras unavailable, Kuraly is positioned to take on fourth-line center duties despite not being fully recovered from his procedure, according to Sturm. Brunet’s return restores a defense option, while the coach’s emphasis on keeping the rookie’s game simple signals the role Boston expects him to play.
Boston’s recent production includes several players to watch: rookie James Hagens scored his sixth goal Monday and leads NHL rookies with 12 points in 16 games, according to the team report. Morgan Geekie has scored in each of his last two games and is projected on the second line and first power-play unit. Those are recent trends, not a guarantee of Thursday’s result.
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Recent Results and Key Matchups
The Bruins arrive after consecutive wins, including Monday’s shootout victory over Vegas. Pittsburgh is coming off a 3-2 loss to the Golden Knights on Tuesday at the same arena. Tommy Novak and Rickard Rakell scored for the Penguins, while goaltender Arturs Silovs made 20 saves. Pittsburgh has lost three of its last five games, the team preview reported.
On the Penguins’ side, Erik Karlsson leads the club with 16 points in 15 games, including three goals and 13 assists. He is projected to play on the first defense pair with Samuel Girard and leads Pittsburgh in average ice time at 23:26 per game. Evgeni Malkin, who leads the team with six goals, missed Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury but is available against Boston, according to the preview.
Coach Sturm framed puck management as a priority against Pittsburgh. “It’s a fast team,” he said, adding that Boston needed to manage the puck well. The comment describes the Bruins’ preparation, not a prediction about how the game will unfold.
““It’s a fast team. Always good at home too.””
— Bruins head coach Marco Sturm
Poitras and Malkin’s Game Status
The Bruins report lists Poitras out, but does not provide a recovery timeline or say when he might return. Although he practiced in a protective shield Wednesday, that participation does not establish when he will be cleared to play. Kuraly is not fully recovered, and Sturm said he could play if needed; the report does not specify what circumstances would prompt Boston to use him.
Malkin is described as available after missing Pittsburgh’s previous game with a lower-body injury. The preview does not confirm whether he will play or provide details about the injury. Projected lines and pairings are also subject to change before puck drop.
Thursday’s Puck Drop in Pittsburgh
The Bruins and Penguins are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at PPG Paints Arena. Boston’s preview identifies DiPietro as the starter and outlines the expected lineup adjustments, but game-time participation could clarify the status of Kuraly and Malkin. The next confirmed milestone is the start of the game; the source material does not give a broadcast listing or report any later schedule changes.
Key Questions
When do the Bruins play the Penguins?
The teams are scheduled to play Thursday at 7 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
Who is starting in goal for Boston?
Michael DiPietro is set to start for the Bruins. He has a 2.26 goals-against average and .929 save percentage through four games this season, according to the team preview.
Why is Matt Poitras out?
Poitras broke his nose after taking an elbow to the face during Monday’s game against Vegas. He practiced Wednesday wearing a bubble shield but is out for Thursday; no return timeline was given.
Is Evgeni Malkin available for Pittsburgh?
The Bruins’ preview says Malkin is available after missing Pittsburgh’s previous game with a lower-body injury. It does not confirm whether he will be in the lineup.
Source: nhl.com
