Down two defensemen, first-place Bruins face Leafs

Going two days without a game for the first time in two weeks didn't make it a less busy stretch for the Boston Bruins.

Various reasons will have Boston's lineup taking on a different look when the rival Toronto Maple Leafs pay a visit on Thursday night.

Charlie McAvoy's four-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head and Matt Grzelcyk's upper-body injury -- both stemming from Monday's win over Florida -- leave the Bruins without two top defensemen.

On Wednesday, Grzelcyk was placed on long-term injured reserve, forward Jakub Lauko (upper body) was added to injured reserve, while defensemen Mason Lohrei, Ian Mitchell and Parker Wotherspoon were all recalled from Providence of the American Hockey League.

Lohrei, 22, is expected to make his NHL debut on Thursday.

"I think you're gonna see (Lohrei) out there a lot," Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. "We think he's ready for this league and we think that he's gonna play well in this league."

Boston's two-day break from game action also featured an official word on center Matt Poitras' status. The 19-year-old will remain with the team beyond his ninth NHL game, beginning his three-year, entry-level deal rather than returning to juniors.

Poitras has followed up a strong preseason with three goals and two assists across nine regular-season games.

"He's sticking around," Montgomery said. "He's earned it. I think we're comfortable with him. No guarantees here the rest of the year, but we feel the way he's progressed that for the time being he's going to be a Bruin. And he's helping us win hockey games."

Despite major roster turnover, the Bruins have still managed to log 17 out of a possible 18 points in the standings. Pavel Zacha's overtime goal Monday was the difference in a comeback win that can build even more confidence in the room.

"There was something (about that) game that meant a little bit more than usual, but you just want to beat teams like this, especially after playoffs, and we're happy we won," Zacha said.

Boston continues a four-game Atlantic Division run against Toronto, which heads right back to the road following Tuesday's 4-1 loss to Los Angeles in its first game following a 3-1-1 road trip.

The Maple Leafs already have posted pair of multi-goal comeback wins this season, but a 3-0 deficit after two periods and Joseph Woll's season-high four goals allowed were too much to overcome in their last outing.

Being in a difficult part of the schedule can't be used as an excuse, according to Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe.

"That can be part of it, but it's the NHL, every team's going to go through stuff like this," Keefe said. "You've got to push through it and find a way. So there's no excuses (about Tuesday's sluggish performance). You got to find a way. There's things that we could have done better."

Captain John Tavares, who scored Toronto's lone goal on a third-period power play, knows that the game can serve as a lesson if the team wants to reach its postseason aspirations.

"I think we have to recognize and understand how you have to fight through that and find ways to execute and do what we need to do to grab momentum, play to our game and dictate the terms," Tavares said. "Especially the team we are striving to be, situations like these we have to be better."

Assisting on Tavares' goal was William Nylander, who has set a Maple Leafs record with points in each of his first nine games.

Woll, a Boston College product, has won 11 of his first 15 career starts with Toronto.

The Leafs will be without defenseman Jake McCabe (groin) in Boston.