Penguins at Bruins
The return of superstar Sidney Crosby to the lineup provided a much-needed jolt for the skidding Pittsburgh Penguins, who ended a four-game slide behind a stellar performance by their team captain. Crosby and the Penguins will look to post back-to-back wins for the first time this month when they visit the Boston Bruins on Friday night.
Crosby scored one goal and set up two others as Pittsburgh rolled to a 5-1 rout of Dallas on Wednesday for only its second victory in 11 games (2-7-2). "I think our team gets a foot taller when he is in our lineup because of the inspiration that he is for our group," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said of Crosby. "Not only is he a great player ... but he's a terrific teammate and he cares so much about the Penguins and trying to help this team win." The Bruins capped a four-game road trip (1-1-2) with a 3-2 overtime loss in Detroit on Wednesday, but they suffered a pair of key injuries on the trek to top-line center Patrice Bergeron and defensemen Zdeno Chara. "It will be nice to be home. I think we'll all be excited," Boston forward Brad Marchand said. "I think the biggest thing is we have to make sure we stay in the moment, can't get caught up with what's happened in the past, and can't look at the next game."
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet360, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, TVAS, AT&T-Sportsnet-Pittsurgh, NESN (Boston)
ABOUT THE PENGUINS (8-8-4): The afterglow of Wednesday's impressive victory was dimmed by the news on Thursday that Pittsburgh placed starting goaltender Matt Murray on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. "He was evaluated this morning by our team doctors," Sullivan said. "This is something that he's been dealing with for a couple of weeks. The decision was made this morning to rest and see if that gives him an opportunity to heal. That's where we're at." Casey DeSmith gave up three goals in 5:27 in his lone appearance versus the Bruins last season.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (11-6-4): While the injury to Bergeron removes a key cog on one of the NHL's most potent lines, Boston received an unexpected boost from its fourth unit in Wednesday's setback to the Red Wings. Chris Wagner netted his second goal of the season off an assist from Sean Kuraly and, along with linemate David Backes, the trio produced 10 shots on goal against Detroit. "I think we're starting to build a little more chemistry," Wagner said. "We're starting to make plays coming over the blue instead of just dumping it in every time and chasing it."
OVERTIME
1. Boston is 8-1-2 in its last 11 versus Pittsburgh and has won five in a row at home.
2. Crosby has 13 goals and 50 points in 36 games against the Bruins.
3. Boston F David Pastrnak, the NHL leader with 17 goals, has six in nine games against the Penguins.