Byron Bitz Absent at Bruins Practice

Byron Bitz, who missed Thursday night's game against the Maple Leafs due to illness, was not at Bruins practice on Friday, NESN.com's James Murphy reports.

Bitz registered a pair of assists in Saturday night's 7-2 win over the Leafs but was unable to play on Thursday. He will make the trip to Long Island on Saturday and will be a game-time decision, according to Murphy.

Matt Hunwick, who filled in on the fourth line as a winger, practiced up front on Friday. He was replaced — at least temporarily — on the blue line by Johnny Boychuk, who has a goal and an assist (his first NHL points) in the last two games. Overall, Boychuk has a plus-3 rating in five games this season.