BOSTON – The Bruins will be without their hottest goal-scorer and the guy who has stepped up the most in the wake of David Pastrnak being injured, for one night at least anyway. Jake DeBrusk wasn’t on the ice for warmups on Thursday night ahead of the game vs. the Florida Panthers at TD Garden and that means he’ll miss at least one game after skating around gingerly his last time on the ice.
DeBrusk seemed to be favoring his left leg at Wednesday practice at TD Garden and wasn’t putting a lot of weight on that leg in drills. There was nothing noticeable that happened in the Tuesday night win over the Carolina Hurricanes with DeBrusk scoring a goal and setting up David Krejci's overtime winner, but it’s clear something has cropped up that’s keeping him out.
Otherwise, the Bruins would be playing a red-hot winger who has scored eight goals and has 15 points in his past 10 games and has been the single biggest offense-producer since Pastrnak went out with his thumb injury. With DeBrusk out, the Bruins will go with rookie Karson Kuhlman after calling him on emergency recall from Providence of the AHL, and he’ll likely skate with Peter Cehlarik on the second line with David Krejci.
Kuhlman made his NHL debut against the Los Angeles Kings Feb. 16 and scored his first career NHL goal against San Jose on Feb. 18. He also has 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points with a plus-25 rating in 53 games with Providence.
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