Poitras Saw a Doctor, Bowman Got Nothing From the League, and Brunet's 'Reset' Is Over: The Bruins Head to Pittsburgh

The Bruins practiced Tuesday at Warrior Ice Arena without Matthew Poitras, the 22-year-old forward who took an elbow to the face from Vegas' Braeden Bowman on Monday and didn't take another shift. They practice again Wednesday and then head to Pittsburgh for a 7 p.m. game Thursday at PPG Paints Arena, the team said.

Poitras

"He has a doctor's appointment at 12:30; we will know more tomorrow," coach Marco Sturm said Tuesday, according to the Bruins' practice report. "But I heard the plan is him traveling tomorrow, so hopefully it will be that case."

Poitras has seven points (four goals, three assists) in 12 games and has been playing down the middle on the fourth line, the team said. The Hockey News reported he's a plus-3.

Bowman got a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the hit. That's it. He did not receive any further discipline from NHL Player Safety, The Hockey News reported.

I'll say it plainly: an elbow to the face that knocks a kid out of the game, and no hearing? That's a choice. Player Safety hasn't explained it publicly, as far as I can find. If Poitras misses time, that decision is going to look worse.

Kuraly's turn

With Poitras out of practice, Sean Kuraly centered Mark Kastelic and Tanner Jeannot. Kuraly has played five games this season, most recently the 5-4 overtime win over Chicago on Oct. 31. He played all 82 games each of the past two seasons, so sitting has been new.

"Just keep it simple. Come in, work hard and just keep going," Kuraly said. "You could get in the mud with all the other BS, I guess, for lack of another word, just keep coming in and enjoying it. Hockey is still the best part of my day."

"You play well, and you want to play better," Kuraly said. "I think the hardest part is just dealing with the mental side of it. Coming in and getting yourself back into game mode, the speed of the game, and reminding yourself what you do well and how you help the team."

That's a veteran saying the right thing about a role he clearly doesn't love. Respect.

Brunet is back

Rookie defenseman Frederic Brunet hasn't played since the 2-1 loss to Carolina on Oct. 27. He took rushes on the third pair with Mason Lohrei on Tuesday, with Connor Clifton and Jonathan Aspirot as extras. Brunet has four points in 10 games and averages 16:24 of ice time.

"That was one where I just wanted him to breathe and actually watch some games and try to get back to where he was playing right at the start. It was not really a punishment. It was just a reset with him," Sturm said. "Most likely, he is going to be in next game and be in for a bit."

The matchup

Boston is 11-4-1 overall and 4-3-1 on the road, according to the AP preview on Fox Sports. The Bruins are 7-2-1 in their last 10, scoring 3.7 goals a game and allowing 2.5. They've also committed 75 penalties, fifth-most in the league. That's 4.7 a night, and that's going to bite them eventually.

Pittsburgh is 5-8-2 overall but 4-1-1 at home, and 2-3-1 in one-goal games. The Penguins are 3-6-1 in their last 10, scoring 2.8 a game and allowing 3.4.

The Penguins' injury list is long: Bryan Rust, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Ryan Graves and Elmer Soderblom are out, and Evgeni Malkin is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, according to the preview. Malkin leads them with six goals and five assists. Rickard Rakell has five goals in his past 10 games.

For Boston, David Pastrnak has eight goals and 12 assists. James Hagens has four goals and four assists over the last 10. Hagens leads all NHL rookies in goals and points, the Bruins said after Monday's game, and Pastrnak's assist that night was his 300th career power-play point, making him the sixth player in team history to get there, according to NHL.com.

What I'm watching

Penalties. The Bruins blew a two-goal lead Monday and needed a shootout. Against a Penguins team that's been decent at home, with Malkin as a threat if he plays, taking five minors is how you give a struggling team life.

What we don't know

Whether Poitras travels, and whether Malkin plays. Both should be clearer after Wednesday's practice.