Kuhlman has played one playoff game and had an assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders in Game 2, when forward Craig Smith was out with a lower-body injury. Kuhlman scored two goals in 20 regular-season games.
"What Kuhlman typically brings is he brings high energy, he gets his feet moving," Cassidy said Monday. "I think the first game he was in there was some apprehension about how much time and space he had. It's going to be a physical series, has been a physical series. Sometimes you need some shifts under your belt, and I thought as the game went on he got better. So, good play away from the puck. Again, help us win. Do what you do best, which is energy on the forecheck. He certainly can create some secondary offense, can shoot the puck, can get in and disrupt some of the breakouts. He does it more with his foot speed and stick than physicality. He's certainly capable of finishing some checks if they're there."
DeBrusk was a healthy scratch for three games during the regular season, when he scored an NHL career-low 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 41 games.
Defensemen Brandon Carlo and Kevan Miller are out for Game 5. Miller hasn't played since Game 4 of the first round because of an undisclosed injury but skated in the an optional practice Sunday and practiced Monday. Carlo, who sustained an undisclosed injury on a hit by Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck in Game 3 on Thursday, also skated Sunday and Monday.
Regardless of who's in the lineup for the Bruins in Game 5, Cassidy said they need to play better than they did Saturday to regain the series lead.
"The guys recognize that," he said. "It's not a secret it wasn't our best. Having said that, we want to be mindful of it was 1-1 in the third period. We had a chance to win the hockey game not being at our best, so that's a positive for us understanding that to win you typically need to be at your best. So let's get there. Let's get to that level."
