Need to Know: Bruins vs. Penguins

BOSTON - The Bruins will get back at it following the All-Star break on Tuesday night as they host the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden. Jeremy Swayman will make the start between the pipes, while Nick Foligno (missed four games with an upper-body injury) and Erik Haula (missed two games while in COVID-19 protocol) will both return to the lineup.
Haula will be back in his second-line center role between Taylor Hall and David Pastrnak, while Foligno will sub in for Anton Blidh as the fourth-line left wing.

"Guys got away, we had an extended run there of a lot of hockey, a good break for them - the physical part of it. I think mentally, they were in a good place, their game was going well," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said of his club, which went 11-4-1 during January.
"Some good opponents coming up, obviously Pittsburgh played well in January, Carolina continues to play well, Ottawa's turned the corner a little. A good test for us all week. But one at a time. This is the healthiest we've been. Up front, all 14 guys are eligible to play, whether it's COVID or injury. Create a little competition in the lineup, see if that makes us better, too."

Here's everything else you need to know ahead of the 7 p.m. puck drop on NESN and 98.5 The Sports Hub:

Opposing View

The Penguins (27-11-8) have dropped four straight after a six-game win streak and sit third in the Metro Division with 62 points this season. All-Star Jake Guentzel paces the Pens with 46 points and 23 goals in 40 games, while stalwarts Kris Letang (5-36-41) and Sidney Crosby (12-28-40) also continue to deliver offensively. Crosby is two goals shy of 500 for his career.
Former Boston University standout Evan Rodrigues is in the midst of a career season with 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in 46 games. Goalie Tristan Jarry, fresh off his second All-Star appearance, has posted a 23-8-6 record with a 2.21 goals against average .923 save percentage and will make the start against the B's.
Pittsburgh will be without Evgeni Malkin, who entered COVID-19 protocol on Monday.
"It's a great overall team that's got a lot of talent as usual," said Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron. "Up front, good at the dot, center ice. The goalie's playing great hockey. I think it's a team that has done well, has improved over the course of the season, a little bit like us. It's gonna be a good matchup for sure."

Heinen Returns

Former Bruins winger Danton Heinen will make his first appearance against his former team on Tuesday night. The winger, who has chipped in nine goals and nine assists for the Penguins this season, was drafted by the Bruins in 2014 and spent parts of four seasons with the Black & Gold from 2016-20.
Heinen was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Nick Ritchie just a few weeks before the NHL shutdown in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the 26-year-old played 220 games with the Bruins, notching 34 goals and 103 points.
"Versatile player, good teammate, coachable player," said Cassidy. "When the decision was made to flip him for Ritchie, we just felt we needed a little more heaviness in our lineup. I don't think it was anything against Danton's play per se. He was a good player for us, played his off side, could move up with Bergy and March.
"Played some power play, added to the kill. He's a good player to have in your lineup to move around, especially with the amount of injuries you have and COVID times. He didn't need a lot of coaching, was a cerebral player.
"Happy to see him doing well in Pittsburgh. He's a good kid, a good teammate. Guys are still friends with him. Just one of those moves we made to try to add an element to our team. Unfortunately, we had to give up a good player to do it."

Tuesday's Projected Lineup

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Craig Smith
Taylor Hall - Erik Haula - David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk - Charlie Coyle - Oskar Steen
Nick Foligno - Tomas Nosek - Curtis Lazar
DEFENSEMEN
Matt Grzelcyk - Charlie McAvoy
Mike Reilly - Brandon Carlo
Derek Forbort - Connor Clifton
GOALIES
Jeremy Swayman
Linus Ullmark