Is one change enough for the Bruins bottom-six?
Karson Kuhlman enters the lineup for Jake DeBrusk in Game 5. Scott Mayfield left, pushed Jake DeBrusk away from the Islanders net in the first period. Bruce Cassidy hinted at potential lineup changes the morning after the Bruins 4-1 loss to the Islanders in Game 4. Specifically, he discussed the struggling bottom-six.  Coach Cassidy provides updates on Brandon Carlo and Kevan Miller, talks about potential lineup changes for Game 5, and praises Patrice Bergeron for another Selke Trophy nomination: pic.twitter.com/As9Lu8mohP  Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 6, 2021  Nick Ritchie has hit his roughest patch of the season. Jake DeBrusks inconsistent season reared its ugly head in a defensive breakdown on Mat Barzals go-ahead goal on Saturday. The fourth line of Sean Kuraly, Curtis Lazar and Chris Wagner has been outplayed by New Yorks checking trio of Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck. Putting everything into account, Cassidy followed up on his sentiment from Sundays media availability. With a pivotal Game 5 looming, the fifth-year Boston bench boss tabbed Karson Kuhlman to re-enter the lineup in place of DeBrusk. What Kuhlie typically brings is high energy and he gets his feet moving, Cassidy said. I think the first game he was in, there was some apprehension about how much time and space that he had. Its going to be a physical series  it has been a physical series  so sometimes you need some shifts under your belt. And I felt as the game went on he got better. So [I hope to see] good play away from the puck, and again, help us win. Do what you do best, which is energy, get on the forecheck. He certainly can create some secondary offense, can shoot the puck, and can get in and disrupt some of the breakouts. He does it more with his footspeed rather than his stickwork and physicality, but hes certainly capable of finishing some checks when theyre there.  Advertisement:  Kuhlman displayed those traits in Game 2, tallying an assist on Charlie Coyles marker on his first shift of the night. A little dont mind if I do from Charlie Coyle**    ** Hes from Weymouth. 1-0 Bruins. pic.twitter.com/6fVIrMGnBC  Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) May 31, 2021  The former Minnesota-Duluth product developed a knack for providing a spark in the past whenever Cassidy inserted him into the lineup. His consistency over long stretches remains an issue, but the circumstances heading into Game 5 prompted Cassidy to re-insert Kuhlman over a struggling DeBrusk to rejuvenated a stagnant third line. I dont think it was their best game, but thats okay, Cassidy said of the third lines outing in Game 4. Its the goal against [by Barzal] that they needed to be better on. Youve got to help us win. Not every line is going to score every night  its the playoffs, its hard to score. Do what you can to help us win whether its physicality, penalty kill, faceoffs, checking role, etc.  Kuhlman over DeBrusk wasnt necessarily a no-brainer. The Bruins couldve moved DeBrusk to his natural left-wing spot in place of Ritchie, providing Coyle with a pair of speedy linemates. Yet, that wouldve taken out a heavier presence in Ritchie on the heels of a tight-checking Game 4 tilt. The Kuhlman/DeBrusk swap provides a little more balance for the third line ahead of Game 5. Yet, one wonders if the struggling fourth line shouldve received a boost from Trent Frederic. Sure, asking a young player to enter the lineup in a crucial game with no prior postseason experience isnt ideal. And surely, Frederics offensive traits havent fully developed at the NHL level. Advertisement:  The Bruins enter their second straight tilt without Kevan Miller or Brandon Carlo manning the right side of the blue-line. The veteran pair skated on their own after Mondays morning skate at Warrior Ice Arena. Adding Frederic in place of Wagner or even Kuraly on the fourth line wouldve provided another physical specimen up front as Cassidy and the coaching staff wait on Miller or Carlo to return  perhaps as soon as Game 6 in Long Island on Wednesday night. But after a trio of solid efforts to start the series, the Bruins arent overthinking things following a frustrating Game 4 outing. They hope that Kuhlmans return plays a role  be it supportive or a more significant one  in a pivotal Game 5 victory. Were not changing our game. We felt that we played well in three out of the four games. The other game we were in it in the third period. So if we can take care of some details, who knows how that one ends up, Cassidy said. So were not going to analyze Game 4 and tear down what we did in the first three games. Were going to try and park some of those things and expect to have more energy back home and get back to the level we need to. And thats it. Thats the message, and I think our guys understand that.