BRIGHTON, Mass – Not only has Karson Kuhlman done enough to stick around the Bruins organization during the playoffs, but it certainly appears that the rookie is going to crack the lineup in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The 23-year-old Kuhlman was skating on the right wing with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk during Monday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena, and clearly has made an impression on the Bruins with his strong two-way play in the final few games of the regular season.
Bruce Cassidy wouldn’t confirm that Monday’s line combos and D-pairings would be the ones he’d definitely take into Game 1 vs. Toronto on Thursday night, but it does appear that speedy, active Kuhlman is in and experienced, big and strong winger David Backes might be the healthy scratch to start the postseason.
“You get young players, you just don’t know necessarily. You can forecast all you want, but until they get in any situations and how they’re going to perform, you don’t know. He’s performed well. He has a history of playing his best hockey at crucial times,” said Bruins general manager Don Sweeney of the undrafted free agent signing after he finished his career at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. “He’s got leadership qualities. I don’t think he changes the way he plays, regardless of the situation, and that’s a benefit to him as well.
“I think he knows what his strengths are, and he tries to play to those, which again, coaches appreciate. When you have the ability to plug a player in, and he doesn’t change regardless of the situation, I think that’s a benefit for all parties. That’s what Karson’s done. He’s played in all different roles and up and down the lineup, but he’s handled himself really well. He’s earned the opportunity to be here and be in the mix.”
Kuhlman had three goals and five points along with a plus-5 rating in 11 games during several stints with the Bruins this season, but in the second half of the year really stood out in a few games played on the second line with David Krejci. One of the best came at perhaps the most crucial time with Kuhlman turning defense into offense on several occasions while racking up a goal and two points in last week’s win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
That kind of game gave the Bruins confidence that Kuhlman might just be able to handle the elevated playoff pace, and gave the player some belief that he might just be able to fill out a top-6 role with the B’s for the time being.
Boston Bruins
“There’s definitely some nerves, but I’m just trying to do what I can do, play to my strengths and do whatever I can to help this team win,” said Kuhlman. “Obviously this is a little bit of a different playoff format where in college hockey you’re one-and-done. Here it’s a bit more of a grind in a series, but I’m just going to take it day-by-day like I’ve been doing since I got called up.
“Ever since you’re a little kid you watch the NHL playoffs, so it’s exciting to be here. I’m just going to play to my strengths, moving my feet, being hard on pucks and keeping it simple. I just stay within my game and try to build up my confidence day-by-day as well.”
Certainly it doesn’t feel like Kuhlman is a long term solution on Krejci’s right side given the modest 12 goals and 30 points he totaled with the Providence Bruins in his first AHL season. But if Kuhlman can give the Bruins a couple of good weeks, he might just help them win a playoff series or two along the way and that’s exactly what the B’s are looking for right now.
Here are the line combos and D-pairings from Monday’s practice with Backes and Connor Clifton trending to be healthy scratches based on the line rushes:
LINE COMBOS
Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-Kuhlman
Johansson-Coyle-Heinen
Nordstrom-Acciari-Wagner
Backes
D-PAIRINGS
Chara-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Grzelcyk-Kampfer
Clifton
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