Heinen, Marchand’s first-line fill-in, isn’t going anywhere. If Marchand plays against the Oilers, Heinen will switch from Bergeron’s left to his right. He has been performing too well to deserve anything less.

Brad Marchand missed his third straight game on Friday because of an undisclosed injury. He will practice on Saturday. If that goes well, No. 63 will return on Sunday against Edmonton in his usual spot on Patrice Bergeron’s left side.

In Friday’s 4-3 win over Pittsburgh, Heinen delivered a good facsimile of Marchand’s three-zone game. Heinen didn’t score. He put just one puck on Penguins goaltender Matt Murray. But Heinen played 22:03, more than Bergeron (21:23) and just one second less than up-front leader David Pastrnak (22:04), because of how well he played in the defensive zone. Heinen made his best play when he stepped in front of Matt Hunwick’s third-period one-timer, prompting his teammates to bang their sticks on the boards in applause of his effort.

“One thing about Danton that I like is his response wherever we’ve played him,” said coach Bruce Cassidy. “He’s done what’s asked. He’s been able to elevate his game to play with certain players with his skill game. He’s been able to elevate his game, his straight-line game, with more north-south guys. So we can’t say enough about his progression. We’ve needed it. Face it, you lose so many guys. Good for Danton. I think he really has grown and learned from last year.”


In previous promotions, Heinen was light on the puck and was a one-dimensional rush player. This time, he is far more engaged in puck battles. It’s a quality that should make him a good fit to play with Marchand and Bergeron, two of the most dogged puck hounds in the league.


If Heinen goes to No. 1 right wing, David Pastrnak would move down to play with Jake DeBrusk and David Krejci.

“He played late in games because he’s willing to block shots,” said Cassidy. “He’s stronger on the puck getting them out. He can make plays. We really like his progression. Where will he go? It’s easy to move him on the right side with Bergy and Marsh. His game looks like it will be a good fit for them, because he’s winning pucks. He can hang on to pucks. He’s stronger on pucks. They like that cycle game.”

Grzelcyk gets his first

Matt Grzelcyk was in good position to score his first NHL goal. DeBrusk first directed him to go back door. Then Krejci told him to hang in the slot. With that kind of guidance, Grzelcyk was in the right spot to settle the puck and snap it off Murray’s glove and into the net at 10:31 of the second.

“Pretty special, obviously,” Grzelcyk said. “It brings back memories here skating as a kid. It hasn’t really sunk in yet. It was pretty cool to get that out of the way.”

Kevan Miller retrieved the puck. The rookie plans to give it to Matt’s father John Grzelcyk, a longtime member of TD Garden’s Bull Gang.

Krug back in

Torey Krug returned after missing the last three games because of an upper-body injury. He started the game as Brandon Carlo’s partner. The Bruins rolled Krug and six other defensemen, including Grzelcyk, the like-minded left-shot, offensive-minded blue liner.

Krug quarterbacked the No. 1 power-play unit. Grzelcyk and Charlie McAvoy played the point on the second group.

By keeping Krug and Grzelcyk in uniform, Cassidy dressed 11 forwards. Frank Vatrano was the odd man out. Cassidy may try this again.

“We had rest yesterday, so playing 11 forwards, you can double up the Pastrnaks,” Cassidy said. “Give Krech a little more ice. It happened to be DeBrusk early. I thought he really had his legs. We don’t mind the 11 forwards. Seven D, it may be something we look at more often if you have Krug and Grizz in there.”


Spooner back at center

Ryan Spooner, playing in his second game following a groin tear, was back at center against Pittsburgh. Spooner made his return at left wing against New Jersey on Wednesday. Spooner had one assist and two shots in 10:46 of play . . . Cassidy is 0 for 2 on goaltender interference challenges in the last two games. “We took a shot there,” Cassidy said of challenging Sidney Crosby’s goal. “Hope maybe the bump early on might lead to a goal waved off. I think deep down, we knew it was a long shot. We made the call anyway — the time and score, given they’d come back to tie it, hoping it would go our way. But it didn’t. I’m not going to argue with the call. You take your chances.” . . . Peter Cehlarik didn’t return after a leg-on-leg collision with Hunwick in the third period. Cehlarik’s left knee appeared to absorb the worst of the damage. Cehlarik hopped off the ice, placing no weight on his left leg, before retreating to the dressing room with assistance . . . Matt Beleskey and Paul Postma joined Vatrano in suit and tie . . . Evgeni Malkin (upper body) was unavailable for the second straight game.

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeFluto.