Bruins Face Panthers With Hagens Sidelined by Back Injury

The Bruins will be without rookie James Hagens for several weeks when they face the Panthers at TD Garden in Boston on November 8. Hagens was placed on injured reserve after a back injury forced him out of Thursday’s win over Pittsburgh in the third period. He has 12 points this season, tied for the most among rookies in the league.

Boston recalled forward Mikey Eyssimont from its AHL affiliate, Providence. He leads that league with 13 goals in eight games and appeared in 56 NHL games last season. Coach Marco Sturm said Hagens’ recovery would take “a few weeks,” adding that Eyssimont had earned the opportunity through his work.

Boston enters the matchup 12-4-1, while Florida is 9-6-2. The Bruins have scored 63 goals and allowed 40; the Panthers have scored 55 and conceded 51. Florida lost 4-3 to Washington on Saturday, its second defeat in three games after a three-game winning streak. Boston’s most recent game was a win over Pittsburgh, with Pavel Zacha scoring twice.

Former Bruins captain Brad Marchand remains out for Florida with a leg injury. Panthers rookie Sandis Vilmanis was helped off the ice after a first-period collision with Washington’s Tom Wilson, who received a game misconduct. Coach Paul Maurice said Vilmanis would be evaluated further on November 8.