PITTSBURGH — A few musings and a pocketful of Penguins from here in Steeltown, where the Bruins and Penguins face off Friday evening (7 p.m., NESN) at PPG Paints Arena:
■ Winners of three straight, the Bruins the past week have jiggled up three rungs in the league’s overall standings, slotted No. 11 with 38 points. They have gone 6-4-0 (.600 over their last 10) and must play a touch over that pace (.608) in their final 51 games to reach the 100-point plateau for their second full season under coach Bruce Cassidy.
■ Less than three weeks ago, the morning of Nov. 26, the Bruins stood tied sixth (with Colorado and Minnesota) in the overall standings with 30 points. Friday morning, the Avs stood T7 (39 points) and the Wild hasd slipped back to T15 (36 points).
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■ Rumors persist that the Penguins, poking along with 32 points, are entertaining trade offers for ex-Bruins winger Phil Kessel. The high-scoring winger has connected for 254 points over the last three-plus seasons, ranking him 14th overall in league scoring in that stretch. He’ll enter the game Friday night tied with Evgeni Malkin atop Pens scoring (each 33 points). Tops in league scoring over that stretch: Chicago’s Patrick Kane (308 points).
■ Skulled by a Danton Heinen shot Nov. 26 in Toronto, Jake DeBrusk will be sidelined for a fourth straight game. Diagnosis: concussion. DeBrusk was 0-0—0 and minus-6 over his four games after Toronto and then moved to the sidelines.
■ Awaiting word as to whether Sean Kuraly will suit up for the Bruins. The scrappy center underwent surgery on a broken nose early this week and did not skate in the Thursday workout in Brighton. If he can’t go, look for Noel Acciari (0-1—1 in 25 games) to get his first call since Dec. 6.
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■ Left winger Tanner Pearson, acquired by the Pens last month in trade for Carl Hagelin, has gone a modest 3-2—5 in his 14 games for Other Black and Gold. The speedy Hagelin has added only a pair of assists to the listless LA offense.
Penguins at a glance
■ When, where: Friday, 7 p.m., at PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh.
■ TV, radio: NESN, WBZ-FM (98.5).
■ Goals: Sidney Crosby 15, Phil Kessel 12, Jake Guentzel 12, Patric Hornqvist 12.
■ Assists: Evgeni Malkin 23, Kessel 21, Crosby 17, Kris Letang 17.
■ Goaltending: Casey DeSmith (9-5-4, 2.43 GAA), Matt Murray (4-5-1, 4.08).
■ Head to head: This is the second of three meetings. The Bruins won the first, 2-1, in OT Nov. 23 in Boston.
■ Miscellany: At 13-11-6, Pittsburgh sits fourth in the Metropolitan Division, just outside the playoff picture but tied in points (32) with the third-place Islanders . . . Murray was activated from IR Wednesday after a lower-body injury sidelined him since mid-November . . . The Penguins have been strong on special teams, ranking 10th in power-play percentage (22.6) and eighth in penalty-killing percentage (83).
Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at kevin.dupont@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeKPD.