Need to Know: Bruins at Penguins

BOSTON - The Bruins will be in Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon for their second straight tilt against the Penguins. Boston will be looking for a repeat performance after putting forth a strong team effort on Thursday night with a 4-1 victory over the Pens at TD Garden.
"It's gonna be a tougher one," Charlie Coyle said following Saturday morning's practice at Warrior Ice Arena. "Second time you play a team, back to back, they didn't come out with a win, so they're gonna want to come back and grab two points from us now. We'll be ready for a better game from them. We've got to make sure we bring our best as well."
The Penguins went on to Detroit following the loss and took down Detroit, 2-1, in overtime on Friday night with a power-play goal from Sidney Crosby.
Here's everything else you need to know for Sunday's matinee (12:30 p.m. on NBC and 98.5 The Sports Hub):

Krejci Ruled Out

David Krejci did not practice on Saturday, meaning he will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said the team will monitor the center over the next couple of days before deciding whether it's best that he remain out through the upcoming All-Star break and bye week.
"We will now look at Tuesday, if he can skate on Monday…then it becomes are you better off with the whole break," said Cassidy.

Backes Clears

David Backes cleared waivers on Saturday afternoon, Cassidy confirmed following practice. The veteran winger will not immediately report to Providence as he's been afforded the same nine-day bye week as the Bruins will have beginning on Tuesday. Backes, expected to start the break on Saturday, will then determine his next step.
"He will be afforded the same break that our other NHL players will get," said Cassidy. "That was the deal with [Bruins GM Don Sweeney]. They discussed that because he's been here all year, which I believe is nine or 10 days.
"He's not going to report to Providence and play this weekend or anything like that. Whatever happens from there after the 10 days, Donny will have an update."

Marchand Pushing Through

Brad Marchand has just three goals over his last 24 games, but he isn't panicking and is hoping that the empty-netter he potted - off a selfless feed from David Pastrnak - against Pittsburgh on Thursday night can help be a spark. Marchand has 21 goals in 49 games this season.
"It just hasn't gone in. That stuff happens," said Marchand, who poked fun at himself on Twitter on Friday after losing the handle on a shootout attempt and a breakaway this week. "There was a stretch there where I was having some bad games and the puck was still finding the back of the net. It all even itself out.
"It's been a while since I've had a stretch like this, but it happens, happens to everybody. Just gonna play through it. There's a lot of other areas in the game that you can focus on and still play well with.
"It's nice to get one and up the confidence a little bit, but it's gonna come. I play with too good of players, get too many good opportunities. It's just a matter of time."

Saturday's Practice Lineup

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk - Charlie Coyle - Anders Bjork
Danton Heinen - Par Lindholm - Karson Kuhlman
Joakim Nordstrom - Sean Kuraly - Chris Wagner
Anton Blidh
DEFENSEMEN
Zdeno Chara - Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug - Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk - John Moore
Steven Kampfer
GOALIES
Jaroslav Halak
Daniel Vladar