Bruins turn to Mikey Eyssimont after AHL hat trick

Jim McBride just reported that Mikey Eyssimont is in the Bruins lineup against the Panthers today.

He gets the call two days after a natural hat trick against Hamilton in the AHL on Friday, and with James Hagens on injured reserve. Marco Sturm said Hagens will be out a few weeks.

McBride noted that Eyssimont will skate on a line with Fraser Minten and Morgan Geekie.

That is a serious spot for a player who has not appeared in an NHL game this season. Geekie has 13 points in 17 games, and Minten has 6 goals and a +10 rating. Hagens had 12 points in 17 games before the injury, so Sturm is replacing real production.

Eyssimont is not a kid auditioning. He is 30 and has 269 NHL games behind him, which explains why Sturm can drop him next to two of his better forwards without a lot of hand-holding.

The Bruins' official account posted "Eyssimont on arrival" this morning, so he is in the building and ready to go.

We reported that Eyssimont missed Bruins practice after the hat trick on Saturday, which now looks like the first sign of a recall.

Giving a forward who just scored three in the AHL a look beside Geekie and Minten is the right call. If the line produces, Sturm will have a hard time moving him out once Hagens is healthy.

Where does Matt Poitras fit on the fourth line?

Poitras centers the fourth line with Tanner Jeannot and Mark Kastelic. That is the same trio spot he held when he re-entered the Bruins lineup against Vegas, only now he comes back from a broken nose.

Poitras was a game-time call in Pittsburgh and played through it. He has 4 goals and 3 assists in 12 games, decent numbers for a fourth-line center.

Jeannot and Kastelic bring size and edge, with 30 and 19 penalty minutes between them this season. Poitras brings hands and a bit of skill, which gives that line a different look.

Jeremy Swayman gets the net.

The Bruins are 12-4-1, first in the Atlantic Division, and have won three straight. They host the Panthers at TD Garden, where they are 7-1-0 this season.

Florida is 9-6-2 and lost 4-3 in Washington on Saturday. The Bruins will see how this new look holds up against a team that just played the night before.

Quick hits

FLORIDA PANTHERSPaul Maurice told reporters that Jacob Markstrom will start in goal in Boston, per Jameson Olive. Florida's last start was Akira Schmid in a loss to the Capitals.

WASHINGTON CAPITALSSammi Silber reports Tom Wilson will not face supplemental discipline for his hit on Sandis Vilmanis. That is a big break for the Capitals.

WINNIPEG JETSRotoWire reports Josh Morrissey is not ready to return, so the Jets host the Lightning tonight without their defenseman. They will need the blue line to hold up.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETSBrian Hedger reports Denton Mateychuk left practice early after being hit by a puck during a drill. Nothing more is known yet.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNINGBenjamin Jones reports that Nikita Kucherov's 20 shot attempts in Minnesota last night tied a Lightning franchise record. That is a lot of rubber from one player.