Boston Hockey Now just reported that Frederic Brunet is set to return for the Bruins, and Matt Poitras is a game-time decision.
Both stories come out of this morning's practice, one day before Boston plays at Pittsburgh on Thursday. Poitras missed Tuesday's practice, so seeing him on the ice at all counted as progress.
That alone raised the stakes for a Bruins team sitting 11-4-1 and first in the Atlantic Division.
Boston Hockey Now put the practice news in a single headline:
Ty Anderson added that it sounds like Poitras is a game-time decision for Thursday's game.
The reason he's in question is a broken nose, Matt Poitras's broken nose and practice return according to Conor Ryan, who called it "not necessarily a surprise."
Ryan also noted that Poitras was on the ice wearing a bubble shield.
That is all anyone knows. Poitras is not ruled in and he is not ruled out. Marco Sturm will likely wait until Thursday to settle it.
Matthew Poitras has 4 goals and 3 assists through 12 games this season. He has been a steady piece of the forward group while the Bruins stacked up wins, so a late call on him matters.
What Brunet's return does to the Bruins blue line
Brunet took rushes with Mason Lohrei on Tuesday, which tells you where he is likely to slot if he plays. He has 1 goal and 3 assists through 10 games, with a +4 rating.
Who comes out of the lineup to make room for him has not been made public, so nobody should pretend to know. But a defenseman with those numbers has earned an honest look every night.
Frederic Brunet's growth in the NHL was already a talking point after the St. Louis game last week, so his return is no surprise.
One more note from the skate. According to Mark Divver, Michael Eyssimont missed practice for dental repairs. Nothing has been said about his status for Thursday.
Pittsburgh is a team Boston should want to catch now. The Penguins are 5-8-2 and have lost three straight, most recently 3-2 to Vegas on Tuesday night. They are 1-6-1 on the road, but Thursday is a home game for them.
The Bruins, meanwhile, beat Vegas 3-2 in a shootout on Monday. They carry a 7-2-1 mark over their last 10 into Pittsburgh. Whether Poitras is in the lineup could be settled at warmups on Thursday.
