Bruins' Sturm out indefinitely

The Bruins' leading goal scorer, Marco Sturm, will miss the next two games and is doubtful for the final pre-Olympic break game against Tampa Bay Saturday and for the Olympic Games.

Sturm, a two-time Olympian for Germany, sustained an upper-body injury in the first period of a 2-0 loss to Montreal Saturday, and though he remained in that game, he missed the 4-3 shootout loss to Carolina Sunday and has not practiced.

''We have to wait and see," Sturm said yesterday. ''I don't know about Saturday; it could be next week or it could be a couple of weeks. I told Germany it could be a week to 10 days.

''I felt it but I was still all right [during the Montreal game]. It hit me that day and especially the next morning."

The Bruins, who visit Pittsburgh tonight and play host to New Jersey tomorrow, will likely continue with Glen Murray replacing Sturm, who has 20 goals, on the first line alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Boyes.

''It helps playing with two guys who are really playing well," Murray said. ''I just have to do my job and help out, let them do their thing, and get out of the way. I have to be there to pick up some pucks and get some rebounds. I have to score. I have to put it in the net somehow."

The Bruins also could be missing Brian Leetch (groin), who returned to practicing at full speed after missing two games.

''He certainly looked pretty good out there," said Bruins coach Mike Sullivan. ''But we want to be cautious with a groin injury because when he came back last time he ended up tweaking it again. We want to make sure we do it right. But if he is healthy and strong, we want him in the lineup."

P.J. Axelsson (Sweden), Milan Jurcina (Slovakia), and Sullivan (US assistant coach) will be involved in the Olympic tournament.

''It is going to be a great experience, but I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about it," Sullivan said. ''My energy has been focused on the Bruins. Any time you have a chance to represent your country, it's an honor and privilege, and I am really looking forward to it.

''It will be a little bit odd seeing [Bruin players] on opposing teams but that is part of the fun, competing against them. I don't know of a greater honor for an athlete than to represent his nation."

The Penguins have lost 16 of 17 games, with a 42-74 goal differential, since Jan. 3. Their only victory in that span was by an 8-1 score over Washington Jan. 25.

''These are obviously important points for us," Sullivan said. ''I don't think we are overlooking any team in the league. [The Penguins] have good players, they are a good group, and they have a lot of pride.

''We will be playing with urgency and be prepared to play. We have to play the way we have been playing, do the things which have brought us success, regardless of who the opponent is."

Tim Thomas is expected to start in goal for the 12th successive game.

''I actually played against Pittsburgh in the preseason this year," said Thomas, ''and [Sidney] Crosby got his first preseason point on me, and they showed it on ESPN about 25 times.

''Then he got his first goal on Hannu [Toivonen], so between the two of us, we were on TV every time Crosby was.

''They are a dangerous team and we've got to be prepared, because they can score. It is a dangerous situation for a goalie when guys are just trying to get points for their contracts and they have guys with the ability to score some goals."