Rask’s save stacks deck
Timely stop leads to win vs. LA Kings
LOS ANGELES — The time and score likely made the save more impressive. But it sure seemed like the turning point in the Bruins’ 4-2 win against the Kings Saturday night.
Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask pulled off a double-pad stack save late in the second period of a 1-1 game. The B’s had jumped ahead before the Kings tied it, and Rask kept it deadlocked.
Moments later, Brad Marchand undid the tie, and while the Kings would get even again before Charlie McAvoy’s eventual gamewinner, Rask’s stop kept the Bruins from blowing another lead.
“It was the craziest twopad stack save I’ve ever seen,” said Jake DeBrusk, who scored the B’s first goal and assisted on the game-winner. “I had a front-row view to it. It was actually my guy. I dove and I’m looking, and all of a sudden he does a twopad stack and saves it with his paddle. There’s a reason he’s been a Vezina (Trophy) winner.”
Rask’s resurgence this season after a shaky start is reminiscent of his 21-game point streak a season ago. The Finnish goalie struggled at the start of the season, but since his leave of absence in November, he’s returned to elite form.
“When you don’t get into those eight or nine games, you split the time and keep both of us fresh, I think it helps,” Rask said. “It benefits the team, I think it’s shown all year. We’ll just try to keep that going.”
The B’s have garnered points in Rask’s last 12 games, which is good timing as Jaroslav Halak’s play has waned. They were always going to go as far as Rask could take them and his recent play indicates that could be a deeper run.
“He’s one of the most elite goalies in the league,” Marchand said. “He gives us an opportunity every night. You saw the saves he made to keep us in it.”
Kuhlman debuts
Karson Kuhlman skated in his first NHL game on Saturday, and didn’t disappoint. He saw time on the Bruins penalty kill — in a game where every player earned special teams minutes — and played 9:47 overall.
“Obviously, the first couple of shifts the nerves were there, and the body’s not doing exactly what you want it to do, but at the end of the day it’s just hockey,” he said.
The Minnesota-Duluth alum played on the third unit with Trent Frederic and Joakim Nordstrom. David Backes was scratched.
Cehlarik banged up
Peter Cehlarik left the contest with about 15 minutes left in the third period and did not return. After the game, B’s coach Bruce Cassidy said the winger had suffered a lower-body injury.
Cehlarik’s production has dipped since his two-goal debut in Philadelphia, but he had a nice assist on DeBrusk’s goal against the Kings and has been consistently skating on David Krejci’s line.
“At the end of the day he couldn’t go,” Cassidy said. “We’ll see how he is (today).”
If Cehlarik is out it will open a window for Kuhlman to stay in and Backes to return to the lineup against the San Jose Sharks.
Stempniak gets shot
After practicing with the Bruins since signing a professional tryout agreement in training camp, Lee Stempniak got into game action on Friday night.
The veteran winger scored a goal for AHL Providence in a 3-1 win over the Toronto Marlies. He also assisted on Steven Kampfer’s goal.
After the Bruins win over Chicago on Tuesday, Cassidy didn’t rule out Stempniak playing for the Bruins this season.
“He’s been skating with us, as you know, seems like since Labor Day, and he could be. I think that’s why he’s still here. There’s always a possibility,” the coach said. “(We have) kind of left that open-ended with Lee. Lee’s happy to stay in shape and skate here. I don’t know if any other opportunities have come his way, but as of right now he’s still skating with us, so he could be. I don’t know if he could go right into our lineup.”
Additionally, Kampfer played in three games with Providence on a conditioning stint, and will rejoin the Bruins in San Jose.