As if things couldn't get more troublesome for the Bruins, the player who is chiefly responsible for the earning points in four of their last five games is on the shelf.

Jeremy Swayman, whom B's coach Joe Sacco pulled after two periods on Wednesday in New Jersey partly because he was "dealing with something minor", was not available for Thursday's pivotal game against the Ottawa Senators and Michael DiPietro was recalled from Providence.

Swayman was not on the bench in the third period in New Jersey.

Joonas Korpisalo was expected to get the start against his old team on Thursday.

Whatever Swayman was dealing with on Wednesday, it didn't stop him from making a number of great saves that kept his team in the game for as long as he could.

After struggling out of the gate due in part to a lost training camp as he haggled with the Bruins for a new eight-year $66 million deal, Swayman has been excellent lately, especially in securing wins in Florida and a home game against Tampa Bay when he saw over 40 shots. Along with the loss in Ottawa last Saturday, it was the first time a B's goalie has seen 40-plus shots in three straight games since Eddie Johnston was playing behind a bad Bruins team in 1963.

Had Swayman not been on his game in the last couple of weeks, it's anyone's guess where the B's would stand in the hotly contested Eastern Conference right now.

This is the first call-up for the 25-year-old DiPietro, originally a third round pick of the Vancouver Canucks who was acquired in the trade for Jack Studnicka.

The Windsor, Ontario native has been very good for the P-Bruins, posting a 14-5-3 record with a 1.95 goals against average. .930 save percentage and three shutouts.