Boston Bruins News

Swayman will likely tend the twine for the Bruins on Thursday as they search for their fifth straight victory. Over his last two games (2-0-0), Swayman has saved 52 of 56 shots faced (.929 SV%). The Bruins have outscored their opposition 18-7 over their last four games (4-0-0) and are -142 home favourites against a Pittsburgh Penguins club that is coming off a 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals but has won three of their last four games (3-1-0).

Gaunce will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Mathieu Olivier to draw back into the lineup for the Blue Jackets. Gaunce is averaging 10:57 time-on-ice through seven games this season, scoring three points (1G / 2A), registering 12 shots, and 13 hits.

Poitras is making an earlier-than-anticipated return to the Bruins after an abrupt exit for him and the rest of the Canadian team at the World Junior Championship. In five tournament games, Poitras scored four points (2G / 2A). Before leaving the Bruins to join Team Canada, Poitras had only six points (1G / 5A) in his last 16 games after scoring seven points (4G / 3A) in his 11 games prior.

Kuraly was helped off the ice after playing only 4:21 in the Blue Jackets December 23rd contest and was taken to hospital, where he was discharged shortly after testing. After further evaluations, Kuraly will be out of the lineup for approximately two weeks with an abdominal injury. In 35 games this season, Kuraly has 11 points (6G / 5A) while playing predominantly on a line with Alexandre Texier and Justin Danforth.

Harris has not played since November 18th, missing 15 straight games, and is eligible and expected to return to the lineup on Thursday after being activated from IR. The 23-year Harris was averaging 18:45 time-on-ice and had three points (0G / 3A) through 16 games this season.

Swayman allowed five goals on 33 shots in his last games (.848 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on December 22nd and will look to rebound when he returns to the crease on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. In recent outings against the Sabres, the Bruins have opted to start former Sabres' netminder Linus Ullmark but are using a different approach by turning to Swayman after losing 3-1 to the Sabres earlier this month. Swayman has lost three straight games (0-1-2) despite only allowing two goals in two of them, posting a .912 SV%.

Kuraly had to be helped off the ice on Saturday and was taken to hospital, where he was discharged after testing. There has not been a definitive update on Kuraly yet, but he will not play on Wednesday and is considered day-to-day.

Kuraly had to be helped off of the ice and was taken to hospital, where he was discharged after testing. Because of the Christmas break, there has yet to be an update on Kuraly's status, but consider him doubtful to play Wednesday.

Swayman, as are the Bruins, is winless in his last two outings, but he will return to the crease on the front end of a back-to-back on Friday. Despite sporting only a .500 record in his last four (2-0-2), Swayman has a stellar .958 SV%, only allowing five total goals, and has been a victim of porous goal support from his team. The Bruins have lost four of their last six (2-1-3) and matchup evenly at -105 against the Winnipeg Jets, who have points in four straight games (3-0-1).

Swayman, as are the Bruins, is winless in his last two outings, but he will return to the crease on the front end of a back-to-back on Friday. Despite sporting only a .500 record in his last four (2-0-2), Swayman has a stellar .958 SV%, only allowing five total goals, and has been a victim of porous goal support from his team. The Bruins have lost four of their last six (2-1-3) and matchup evenly at -105 against the Winnipeg Jets, who have points in four straight games (3-0-1).

Lohrei will draw back into the lineup for the Bruins on Friday as Matt Grzelcyk (upper body) did not travel with the team and will miss at least the next two games. In 15 games this season, Lohrei has five points (2G / 3A), 22 shots, eight blocks, and 26 hits while averaging 16:59 time-on-ice.

With both Logan Thompson and Adin Hill unavailable due to injury, it will be Jiri Patera who gets the call for the Golden Knights on Thursday. Patera made his second appearance of the season in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Hurricanes, stopping all ten shots he faced after Thompson left early in the third period with an upper-body injury. Patera picked up the win in his lone start of the season, allowing four goals on 39 shots enroute to a 5-4 shootout victory over the Sharks on December 10th. The second-year netminder owns a .924 SV% across four career appearances.

Jokiharju will sit on Thursday as the Sabres will opt to dress Ryan Johnson in his place. Jokiharju has two goals and seven assists in 30 games this season.

McAvoy will return to action on Tuesday after returning to practice on Monday as a full participant, including lining up on the top powerplay unit, a spot previously occupied by Kevin Shattenkirk. McAvoy has missed four straight games due to an upper-body injury suffered on December 7th.

McAvoy will likely return to action on Tuesday after returning to practice on Monday as a full participant, including lining up on the top powerplay unit, a spot previously occupied by Kevin Shattenkirk. McAvoy has missed four straight games due to an upper-body injury suffered on December 7th.

Zacha will return to the Bruins' lineup on Tuesday after being a full participant at practice on Monday, re-assuming his previous duties, including centring the top powerplay unit. Zacha suffered an upper-body injury early in the Bruins' December 9th contest against the Arizona Coyotes. After a stretch of 17 points (8G / 9A) in 17 games, Zacha was held to only one point (0G / 1A) in the four games leading up to his injury.