DeBrusk scratched for Bruins in Game 5 against Islanders

Jake DeBrusk will be a healthy scratch for the Boston Bruins when they host the New York Islanders in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Second Round on Monday (6:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN1, TVAS).

DeBrusk, who has scored three points (two goals, one assist) in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games this season but none in the past five, will be replaced by forward Karson Kuhlman.
The Bruins are coming off a 4-1 loss in Game 4 on Saturday that evened the best-of-7 series. They were limited to a series-low 29 shots on goal, including 19 at even strength, and four of those shots were generated by their third line of Nick Ritchie (one), Charlie Coyle (one) and DeBrusk (two), who were also on the ice when Islanders forward Mathew Barzal scored the tiebreaking goal with 6:57 remaining in the third period.
"The third line didn't generate much last night," Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said Sunday. "Well, it didn't generate anything to be honest with you. They've had better games. Obviously a breakdown on the last goal. I think our winger (DeBrusk) dove down. We should've had more patience and let them get to the middle of the ice, and that kind of snowballed from there where guys were a little late because we didn't do our job first. So that part of it hurt us."

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."