DeBrusk (upper body) did not practice Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

The Bruins have referred to the issue that has sidelined DeBrusk of late as an upper-body injury, which could be a concussion. In any case, it seems pretty safe to rule out the winger for Friday's contest against the Penguins.

DeBrusk (undisclosed) remains day-to-day in advance of Tuesday night's game against the Coyotes.

EDGE Analysis

Meanwhile, coach Bruce Cassidy relayed that DeBrusk is seeing specialists Tuesday, after which the team should have a better idea of the young forward's status heading into Friday's game against the Penguins. DeBrusk, who last suited up Dec. 6, has logged 10 goals (second on the Bruins) and 12 points in 28 games to date. In the absence of both DeBrusk and center Patrice Bergeron (ribs), the Bruins have loaded up their top line with the team's top healthy forwards: Brad Marchand, David Krejci and David Pastrnak.

DeBrusk isn't "feeling well physically" and it will cost him a back-to-back set of games this weekend, Joe Haggerty of NBC Sports Boston reports.

EDGE Analysis

We're still waiting for official word on what is bothering DeBrusk, but for what it's worth, Haggerty thinks it has to do with Boston's burgeoning scoring winger getting hit in the back of his head in a Nov. 26 contest against the Maple Leafs. DeBrusk has played four games since then, though he's looked sluggish and has a minus-6 rating over four pointless outings since that contest against the Buds. We'll circle back once the team has more concrete details about DeBrusk's condition.

DeBrusk skated on the Bruins' second line at practice Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

DeBrusk missed his final shift Monday night against the Maple Leafs after taking a puck to the back of his helmet. His presence at practice Wednesday confirms that the issue was minor and that the surging forward is in line to play Thursday against the Islanders. Through 24 games overall, the 22-year-old has logged 10 goals and 12 points, with five of those tallies having occurred over his last seven outings.

DeBrusk scored a pair of goals in a 6-3 loss to the Avalanche on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

The second-year winger really struggled in the first month of the season, but in the last five games, he has four goals and six points. That's more than made up for the poor start, as he has seven goals and nine points in 18 games, putting him on pace to surpass his 16 goals from last season. He's getting more shots to the net than he did last season too, but the bad news is he still likely has an unsustainable 18.4 shooting percentage. Owners would also like to see more in the assist category, as he only has two helpers this season.

DeBrusk had two goals and an assist in an 8-5 loss to Vancouver on Thursday night.

EDGE Analysis

DeBrusk has been scuffling this season -- he had just four points (three goals, one assist) in 14 games leading up to Thursday night. Much was expected from DeBrusk, who was coming off a fabulous rookie campaign. But this season, he has been held off the scoresheet in 11 of 15 games. This level on inconsistency means he should be stapled to your bench until he can stabilize his game.

DeBrusk was held off the scoresheet yet again as he failed to even register a shot during Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Predators.

EDGE Analysis

After a surprisingly successful rookie year, DeBrusk looks like proof again that the sophomore slump is real. He is shooting at a higher rate per game this season (2.23/game) than last season (2.04/game) but has only three goals on the season. He has also failed to collect any assists as the Bruins depth struggles to create offense. It is unlikely he loses his spot in the top six, but his inability to create offense should be concerning to both the Bruins and his fantasy owners.

DeBrusk fired five shots on net during Tuesdays 4-1 win over the Senators, but failed to add to his goal totals.

EDGE Analysis

After collecting two goals against Detriot on Oct. 13, DeBrusk has gone scoreless. His drought is not for lack of trying as the sophomore winger has collected at least one shot in every one of the Bruins nine games. He is currently third in shots behind Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak and should break through his snakebitten phase soon enough.

DeBrusk saw 3:26 on the power play during Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Oilers, but failed to add to his point totals.

EDGE Analysis

No one in the game saw more ice time on the man advantage, but the Bruins went 0-for-3 and Debrusk only managed one shot on goal during the game. The Bruins need more production from the sophomore winger, who has only two goals and zero assists through seven games.

DeBrusk scored his first two goals of the season in Saturday's 8-2 win over the Red Wings.

EDGE Analysis

The goals were DeBrusk's first two points of the young campaign, so the young forward's owners can finally breathe a sigh of relief after his fifth game. DeBrusk can be expected to pick up the scoring pace moving forward considering he compiled 43 points (16 goals) as a rookie last season.