Penguins host Bruins to close two-game homestand

The Pittsburgh Penguins close a two-game homestand against the Boston Bruins on Thursday at PPG Paints Arena. Boston has confirmed Michael DiPietro as its starter for the 7 p.m. ET game. He enters with a .929 save percentage through four appearances this season.

Frederic Brunet rejoins Boston’s defence alongside Mason Lohrei. Sean Kuraly takes over at fourth-line centre from Matt Poitras, who broke his nose in Monday’s shootout win over Vegas. The Bruins come in at 11-4-1.

Pittsburgh, 5-8-2, is expected to get Evgeni Malkin back after he missed Tuesday’s loss to Vegas with a lower-body injury. The NHL’s projected lineup has him skating with Ben Kindel and Egor Chinakhov. Malkin has six goals and five assists this season.

Rickard Rakell has five goals and two assists over his last 10 games. Pittsburgh’s game notes also highlight Tommy Novak, who has three goals in his last five games against Boston, and Nick Robertson, whose plus-7 rating leads the team.