Penguins at Bruins preview

PENGUINS (11-9-3) at BRUINS (9-7-4)
1 p.m. ET; NBC, NHL.TV

The Bruins won their third straight game by defeating the New Jersey Devils 3-2 in an 11-round shootout on Wednesday. The winning streak followed a four-game losing streak (0-3-1).
The Penguins will again be without center Evgeni Malkin, who missed Pittsburgh's 5-2 home loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday with an upper-body injury. He didn't make the trip. The Penguins have lost back-to-back games and are 2-3-1 in their past six.

Players to watch

Penguins forward Jake Guentzel had two goals in a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday and has three goals in his past three games.
Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin has won each of Boston's past three games, allowing four goals. He is 6-0-2 this season.

They said it

"Focusing on your job and controlling what you can control. There's a lot of things out there that you can't. It's trusting each other. We're going in the right direction. Just get that extra little step and we'll be in good shape." -- Penguins goalie Matt Murray on how the Penguins can play better after losing their past two games
"The only decision [Thursday] is how much turkey to have. I think it's good for all of us to get away from the rink and enjoy the day. Again it's a good problem to have. I don't think we can go wrong whoever is in there [Friday]." -- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy on his decision to start Anton Khudobin for a fourth straight game or go back to Tuukka Rask against the Penguins

Penguins projected lineup

Conor Sheary -- Sidney Crosby -- Patric Hornqvist
Bryan Rust -- Jake Guentzel -- Phil Kessel
Carl Hagelin -- Riley Sheahan -- Josh Archibald
Tom Kuhnhackl -- Greg McKegg -- Ryan Reaves
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Olli Maatta -- Justin Schultz
Matt Hunwick -- Ian Cole
Matt Murray
Tristan Jarry
Scratched:Chad Ruhwedel
Injured:Evgeni Malkin (upper body), Carter Rowney (hand)

Bruins projected lineup

Danton Heinen -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk -- David Krejci -- Peter Cehlarik
Ryan Spooner -- Riley Nash -- Noel Acciari
Tim Schaller -- Sean Kuraly -- Frank Vatrano
Zdeno Chara -- Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk -- Kevan Miller
Rob O'Gara -- Brandon Carlo
Anton Khudobin
Tuukka Rask
Scratched:Paul Postma, Matt Beleskey
Injured:Brad Marchand (undisclosed), Torey Krug (upper body), Anders Bjork (undisclosed), Adam McQuaid (broken fibula), David Backes (diverticulitis)

Status report

Malkin didn't play Wednesday and was scheduled to be re-evaluated Thursday to determine if he can play this weekend; the Penguins host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. ... Marchand and Krug have been skating and are day-to-day.

Stat pack

The Penguins' penalty kill has allowed 10 goals on 23 chances in the past six games and ranks 26th in the NHL (75.8 percent). ... Pastrnak had an assist Wednesday in a 3-2 shootout win at the New Jersey Devils after he had no points in his prior four games.