Balanced scoring key to Bruins Stanley Cup Final run

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Balanced offensive attacks are in vogue for the National Hockey League's elite teams. 

On Sunday night, the Bruins tied the NHL record for most players with a playoff goal when Karson Kuhlman notched a third-period goal. Kuhlman became the 21st Bruin to score in the postseason, which ties the record set by the 1987 Philadelphia Flyers. To break the record, defenseman John Moore (or Tuukka Rask) would have to score, but Moore may not play depending on Matt Grzelcyk's injury status. 

On the other side, 19 St. Louis Blues players have scored in the postseason. Zach Sanford and Jay Bouwmeester are the two remaining scoreless Blues. 

But the Blues rely on their top line as much as their depth to score. Center Ryan O'Reilly's hot streak puts him at 21 postseason points, tying a Blues franchise record. 

For the Bruins, Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron have each scored nine goals in the playoffs. Though the "perfection line" of Bergeron, Marchand and Pastrnak has come through when Boston's needed it, the Bruins have trusted their third and fourth lines to score timely goals. The scoring balance is a big shift from last year, when the Bruins relied too heavily on their top line to produce. 

“We believe this is the year that we’ve got secondary scoring,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said after Game 6. “That’s why we’re still playing. You need it in the playoffs.

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