Penguins-Bruins preview

Some news, notes and numbers in advance of the Penguins’ game in Boston tonight:

*** Right winger Pascal Dupuis, who missed most of the second period and all of the third during the Penguins’ 5-1 victory against San Jose Thursday night, participated in the optional game-day skate at TD Garden and seems like at least an even-money bet to play against the Bruins. Dupuis did not speak with reporters, but coach Dan Bylsma suggested Dupuis will have a large say in whether he dresses tonight because he has had to deal with a similar injury in the past and has a feel for how it could affect him.

*** With Evgeni Malkin sidelined by an unspecified injury sustained during the game-day skate Thursday, Sidney Crosby presumably will spend most of the evening pitted against oversized Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara.

*** Marc-Andre Fleury will, as expected, be in goal for the Penguins, who take a season-best five-game winning streak into the game.

*** Chara, on the impact of Malkin’s absence: “We have to play the same way. We know he brings a lot to their team, but they have so much depth and speed and skill, even without him, that we have to play the same way.”

*** Most of the Penguins skated this morning, with James Neal and Crosby being two conspicuous exceptions. Because they did not go on the ice and because Dupuis’ availability is uncertain, predicting what the Penguins’ lines will look like tonight is difficult, at best.

*** The Penguins are 9-1-1 in their past 11 regular-season meetings with the Bruins, who have been held to two or fewer goals in eight of those games.

*** Bruins forward Daniel Paille, on his team’s rivalry with the Penguins: “Montreal is obviously a historic rivalry, but Pittsburgh, with Crosby and Malkin and their whole lineup, they have a group where you want to play your best.”

*** The Penguins are 51-26-6 in games Malkin has missed since joining them. Crosby has 53 points in the 38 career games he has played while Malkin has been out with an injury.

*** The Bruins have allowed two or fewer goals 19 times this season, going 17-2 when that happens.

*** Penguins LW Chris Kunitz has a six-game scoring streak, one shy of his career-best. He has five goals and four assists during the streak.

*** Neal has been held without a point just once in the past nine games. He is averaging four shots per game this season, making him one of just seven NHL players to put the puck on net that often.

*** The Penguins have scored three goals in five of their seven regular-season meetings with Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, but never have gotten four.

*** Boston, coming off a 2-1 loss in Montreal Thursday, will be trying to avoid losing consecutive games in regulation for just the second time this season.

*** Bylsma said the Penguins have not decided whether to loan rookie defenseman Olli Maatta to Finland for the upcoming world junior championships, although he made it sound as if that is less than likely. “Would it be beneficial?” Bylsma said. “I don’t know, from a development standpoint, if it’s more beneficial than playing in the National Hockey League for Olli. If international competition would be beneficial to his development, I’m hoping for one a little later in the year for Olli – to play in the Olympics.”

*** Boston is 9-0-2 in its past 11 games on home ice.

*** Kunitz, on facing the Bruins: “They’re really a benchmark team that everybody tries to measure themselves against. We know we’re probably going to have to cross them in the playoffs sometime. Obviously, last year it didn’t work out in our favor, but we’ve had, throughout the regular season, a lot of one-goal games against them. You know it’s going to a tough game every time you play them.”

*** The Bruins are 3-0 in overtime, including a victory against the Penguins, but only 1-2 in shootouts.

*** Bylsma said it is “conceivable” that defenseman Rob Scuderi, who is recovering from surgery to repair a broken ankle, will return to practice within the next week.

*** Bruins defenseman Matt Bartkowski on fellow Mt. Lebanon native Patrick Wey, who is scheduled to make his NHL debut with Washington tonight: “I’m sure he’ll be a little nervous at the start but honestly, the best thing he can do is just keep it simple and play (his) game. It really is just that. Everybody says it, but if you can get past the whole mental aspect of (it being) your first game and not wanting to mess up or whatever, you’ll be fine. You just get into a rhythm. He’ll be all right.” Bartkowski said he and Wey are workout partners during the off-season.