Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV/Radio: ESPN+ (national), NESN (Bruins), SportsNet Pittsburgh (Penguins); local radio on 98.5 The Sports Hub (Bruins) / 105.9 The X (Penguins)
The Metropolitan Division-leading Pittsburgh Penguins visit TD Garden riding a strong stretch without their captain, while the Boston Bruins aim to extend a lengthy home winning streak in a key Eastern Conference matchup. Pittsburgh sits 2nd in the Metro with 75 points and strong playoff positioning; Boston is 5th in the Atlantic with 71 points and fighting for home-ice advantage. This is the second and final regular-season meeting (Bruins won the first 1-0 in January).
Injury Report
Pittsburgh Penguins (significant absences):
- Sidney Crosby (C) – Out (lower-body injury from Olympics; IR, minimum 4 weeks – re-evaluation ~March 26)
- Jack St. Ivany (D) – Out (hand, IR)
- Filip Hallander (C) – Day-to-Day (leg)
- Others: Minor depth call-ups filling in; Penguins rolling with a hot goaltending tandem and depth scoring.
Boston Bruins (mostly healthy):
- No major injuries reported for the active roster.
- Prospect Dans Locmelis (C) – Out for season (shoulder surgery), but not impacting NHL lineup.
Full complement of key players expected, including David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie, Brad Marchand (recently limited but available), Charlie McAvoy, and goaltenders.
Pittsburgh is thriving without Crosby (10-1-4 since mid-January), while Boston enjoys near-full health at home.
Recent Form (Last 5-10 Games)
Penguins (7-1-2 in last 10, 3-0-2 in last 5):
- W 5-0 vs. Vegas (March 1) – Arturs Silovs shutout, multi-goal 2nd period
- L 3-2 SO @ NY Rangers (Feb. 28)
- W 4-1 vs. New Jersey (Feb. 26)
Hot streak features elite goaltending (Silovs/Tristan Jarry) and balanced scoring from Rust, Malkin, and depth pieces.
Bruins (5-2-3 in last 10):
- L 3-1 vs. Philadelphia (Feb. 28)
- Strong home form with a reported 10-game home win streak entering this matchup. Defensive lapses in recent losses but potent offense led by Pastrnak (team-high points) and Geekie (33 goals).
Series History (2025-26 Season)
Bruins lead season series 1-0 (most recent: BOS 1-0 win on Jan. 11, 2026 at TD Garden).
All-time: Bruins lead significantly (143-90-21-2 regular season). Boston has won 7 of the last 10 meetings and holds a shutout edge in the only 2025-26 clash.
Key Player Matchups
- Evgeni Malkin / Bryan Rust (Penguins) vs. Boston’s top line (Pastrnak / Geekie / Marchand): Malkin steps up as the primary playmaker without Crosby; Rust’s speed creates transition threats against Boston’s structured D.
- Arturs Silovs / Tristan Jarry (Penguins goaltending) vs. Bruins’ high-volume attack: Penguins’ hot netminders (Silovs 2nd shutout recently) face Boston’s 27+ shots/game average.
- Kris Letang / Penguins D vs. David Pastrnak: Letang’s veteran savvy must contain Pastrnak’s lethal shot and playmaking.
- Special Teams: Penguins rank top-5 in both PP (26.8%) and PK (84.3%); Bruins solid but vulnerable on the road PK.
Betting Trends
- Penguins 7-1-2 ATS-equivalent in last 10 (strong covers without Crosby).
- Bruins 8-2-0 in last 10 home games; 10-game home win streak alive.
- Under has hit in 4 of last 5 head-to-heads (low-scoring, defensive battles).
- Penguins 16-7-6 on road; Bruins allow 3.12 GAA at home but Penguins scoring depth compensates.
- Total Under 6 in 6 of Penguins’ last 8 road games.
Game Odds
Pittsburgh Penguins 6.5
Boston Bruins – 142
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, March 2, 2026
