Game Preview: Boston Bruins @ Pittsburgh Penguins 3/1/2025

The Pens begin a weekend back-to-back this afternoon at PPG Paints.

Who: Boston Bruins (27-25-8, 62 points, 6th place Atlantic Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (24-28-9, 57 points, 8th place Metropolitan Division)

When: 3 p.m. ET

How to Watch: National broadcast on ABC, streaming on ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: The Pens get less than 24 hours between games this weekend. The team is back at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET puck drop against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Opponent Track: The Bruins have lost seven of their last nine games. They’re currently in a five-game losing skid, dating back before the 4 Nations break. Since the return of NHL play the Bruins have dropped three straight, including a frustrating back-to-back of OT losses against the Ducks and Leafs.

Season Series: Philip Tomasino scored a third-period game-winner, while Tristan Jarry turned aside 30 shots, to help the Penguins claim a 2-1 win over the Bruins at TD Garden back on Nov. 29.

Hidden Stat: The Penguins are 3-9-0 in the first half of back-to-backs this season (h/t Pens PR.)

Getting to know the Bruins

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Morgan Geekie - Pavel Zacha - David Pastrnak

Brad Marchand - Elias Lindholm - Charlie Coyle

Georgii Merkulov - Matthew Poitras (?) - Justin Brazeau

Cole Koepke - John Beecher - Mark Kastelic

DEFENSEMEN

Nikita Zadorov - Brandon Carlo

Mason Lohrei - Andrew Peeke

Ian Mitchell - Parker Wotherspoon

Goalies: Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo

Scratches: Trent Frederic (week-to-week lower-body injury), Jordan Oesterle, Jeffrey Viel

IR: Hampus Lindholm (fractured kneecap, likely out for the season), Charlie McAvoy

• It’s been a brutal stretch, injury-wise, for the Bruins. Trent Frederic was hurt after making a failed hit on Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe on Tuesday. Two days later, Matt Poitras was shoved into an open bench door during Thursday’s loss to the Islanders.
• It sounds like Poitras avoided serious injury and could be available Saturday. Frederic, however, is sidelined on a week-to-week basis. As a pending UFA, he’s a candidate to be moved at the deadline, and that news won’t help improve his trade value.
• The Bruins made a series of Friday roster moves. Forwards Riley Tufte and Oliver Wahlstrom and defenseman Michael Callahan went to the AHL, to be replaced by forwards Georgii Merkulov and Jeffrey Viel and defenseman Ian Mitchell. Merkulov has appeared in three games this season for the B’s, while Viel and Mitchell have yet to make their season debuts.
• Whether Merkulov and Viel both play could hinge on Poitras’ availability, while Mitchell will presumably replace Callahan on the bottom pairing. Bruins writer Scott McLaughlin offered some insight as to the call-up:

• Wahlstrom, a former No. 11 pick, cleared waivers as part of the move. He has just two points in 16 games since a midseason trade from the New York Islanders.
• Charlie McAvoy is still sidelined with the infection that hospitalized him during the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Player stats

(via hockeydb)

• David Pastrnak recorded career point No. 800 during Thursday’s loss to the Islanders.

Inconsistent goaltending, inconsistent goalscoring: the Penguins Bruins experience

It’s been a difficult campaign for Jeremy Swayman ever since he signed his eight-year, $66 million extension last fall.

Even when he plays well, however, the Bruins haven’t been able to consistently support him.

Take Boston’s last two losses as an example. The Bruins held a 3-0 lead over the Maple Leafs at home on Tuesday before Swayman’s struggles allowed the visitors to come storming back and win in overtime.

Two days later, Swayman made 18 saves on 19 Islanders shots— but the Bruins couldn’t find a way to support him with more than one goal of their own.

The Bruins aren’t out of the playoff picture. They’re four points back from a Wild Card spot (whereas the Penguins sit nine back.) But this latest stretch hasn’t inspired confidence that this is a postseason team.

The Marchand question

Boston’s place outside the playoff bubble looking in begs the question: is this the last time the Penguins face Brad Marchand in a Bruins uniform?

Marchand says he wants to retire with the Bruins, but his expiring contract and the Bruins’ disappointing season could force the franchise to consider trading their captain during his 16th season with the Bruins.

The Bruins only have a few more days left to make their decision. The NHL trade deadline is set for March 7.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust

Anthony Beauvillier - Evgeni Malkin - Cody Glass

Danton Heinen - Kevin Hayes - Philip Tomasino

Boko Imama - Blake Lizotte - Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Ryan Shea / Kris Letang

Matt Grzelcyk / Erik Karlsson

Ryan Graves / Vincent Desharnais

Goalies: Alex Nedeljkovic and Joel Blomqvist

Potential Scratches: P.O. Joseph, Vladislav Kolyachonok, Emil Bemstrom

Injured Reserve: Michael Bunting (appendix surgery)

• The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz doesn’t believe Boko Imama will face supplemental discipline for his hit on Garnet Hathaway.
• Per Pens PR: Ryan Shea set a new career high by skating for 21:47 in Thursday’s win over the Flyers.
• A Penguins win this afternoon would make Mike Sullivan the first American-born head coach to win 400 games with a single franchise, per Pens PR.
• More milestones to watch: Rickard Rakell is two points away from No. 500, while Erik Karlsson needs a hat trick to reach 200 goals.