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The Boston Bruins visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, with Michael DiPietro scheduled to start in goal and Frederic Brunet returning to the lineup. Matt Poitras will miss the game after breaking his nose; Pittsburgh is coming off a loss to Vegas, and Evgeni Malkin is available after missing that game with a lower-body injury.
The Boston Bruins visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET, with Michael DiPietro set to start in goal and defenseman Frederic Brunet returning to the lineup. Boston will be without forward Matt Poitras, who broke his nose in Monday’s game, as the Bruins seek a third straight win at PPG Paints Arena.
Boston enters the matchup after winning its last two games, most recently defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in a shootout on Monday at TD Garden. DiPietro last played Saturday, when the Bruins beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime. The 27-year-old has a 2.26 goals-against average and .929 save percentage through four games, according to the team report.
Brunet is expected to play for the first time since Oct. 27, joining Mason Lohrei on Boston’s third defensive pair. Jonathan Aspirot and Connor Clifton are expected to sit. Brunet, 23, has recorded four points in 10 games during his rookie season. Coach Marco Sturm said he wants the defenseman to keep his game simple and use his skating and decision-making.
Poitras is out after taking an elbow to the face against Vegas and breaking his nose. He practiced Wednesday in a bubble shield, but the Bruins said he will not play Thursday. Sean Kuraly is expected to center the fourth line in his place. Sturm said Kuraly had a procedure Wednesday and was still recovering, though he could play if needed.
Boston’s Lineup Tests Its Depth
The game gives Boston an immediate test of its goaltending and forward depth as it tries to extend its winning run on the road. DiPietro’s four-game numbers offer a strong early record, but the team report does not establish how he will perform against Pittsburgh or indicate whether he will receive a longer run of starts.
Poitras’s absence changes the bottom-six forward arrangement, while Brunet’s return gives the Bruins another defensive option. Those adjustments matter against a Penguins team whose leading scorer, Erik Karlsson, has 16 points and averages a team-high 23:26 of ice time, according to the report. The matchup also features Pittsburgh’s power-play threat and the possibility of Malkin returning.
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Recent Form and Key Matchups
Boston’s two-game streak includes its shootout win over Vegas and Saturday’s overtime victory against Chicago. The Bruins report lists James Hagens with six goals and 12 points through 16 games; it says his point total leads NHL rookies and ranks third on Boston. Morgan Geekie has 11 points in 16 games and enters Thursday with goals in each of his last two games.
Pittsburgh lost 3-2 to Vegas on Tuesday. Tommy Novak and Rickard Rakell scored, while goaltender Arturs Silovs made 20 saves. The Penguins have lost three of their last five, according to the Bruins’ preview. Karlsson leads Pittsburgh with 16 points in 15 games, and Evgeni Malkin leads the team with six goals in 13 games. Malkin missed Tuesday’s game with a lower-body injury but is listed as available for Thursday.
Sturm described Pittsburgh as a fast team that is difficult to beat at home. He said Boston’s puck management would need to be sharp. The matchup is set for PPG Paints Arena, where Pittsburgh will try to halt its recent run of losses and Boston will look to keep its momentum.
“It’s a fast team. Always good at home too. That’s going to be our job to stop them…we’ve seen it in the past, that’s why our puck management has got to be really good tonight.”
— Bruins head coach Marco Sturm
Availability and Game-Time Changes
The lineup details are the Bruins’ projected arrangements, and the report does not confirm whether either team will make late changes before puck drop. Kuraly is not fully recovered, according to Sturm, who said he could play if needed; the report does not specify what would trigger that change.
Poitras’s recovery timeline is not provided. Although he practiced with a bubble shield, Boston listed him out for Thursday, and the report gives no date for his return. Malkin is available after a lower-body injury, but the report does not say whether he is fully recovered or whether his role could be limited. Pittsburgh’s starting goaltender for the game is also not identified in the supplied preview.
Thursday’s Puck Drop in Pittsburgh
The Bruins and Penguins are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. ET Thursday, Nov. 5, at PPG Paints Arena. Boston’s announced plan has DiPietro in goal, Brunet on the third pair and Kuraly centering the fourth line, subject to any changes before the game.
Updates during warmups should clarify final line combinations, Kuraly’s status and Pittsburgh’s starting goalie. The game will also show whether Boston can extend its two-game winning streak and how Pittsburgh responds after its loss to Vegas.
Key Questions
When and where is Bruins at Penguins?
The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
Who is expected to start in goal for Boston?
Michael DiPietro is set to start for Boston. The Bruins’ report says he has a 2.26 goals-against average and .929 save percentage through four games.
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’s matchup.
Is Evgeni Malkin playing against Boston?
Malkin is listed as available after missing Pittsburgh’s previous game with a lower-body injury. The report does not confirm whether his playing time will be limited.
Source: nhl.com
