Kuraly Comes Up Clutch - Again

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Sean Kuraly is not your typical goal scorer. The 25-year-old is better known for his gritty, energetic style, while establishing himself as a dependable bottom-six forward.
Nevertheless, the Ohio native has certainly developed a flare for the dramatic.
Fresh off his overtime winner in Buffalo on Saturday night, Kuraly came through in the clutch once again by notching the deciding goal midway through the third period of the Bruins' 4-2 victory over the Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL Winter Classic.

"Oh man, it was obviously a great feeling," said Kuraly. "On the lucky end of it tonight, kind of fell out of the sky for me. I'll take them when they come."

And when they do come, Kuraly usually makes them count. Now in his third season with the Bruins, the 6-foot-2, 213-pounder has notched 10 goals in 122 regular-season games. But in 16 postseason contests, the Miami of Ohio alum has four goals, highlighted by his breakout performance in Boston's first-round playoff series with the Ottawa Senators in 2017.
After playing just eight games during the regular season, injuries forced Kuraly into the lineup for four of the six meetings with the Senators. He burst onto the scene with his first two career goals in Game 5 - including the winner in double overtime- to send the series back to Boston.
Fast forward nearly two years and it was Kuraly who sent the Bruins to South Bend on a high note with his overtime winner against the Sabres on Saturday, which came during a game in which the natural center saw time as the No. 1 left wing with Brad Marchand sidelined by an injury.
"If he's playing center he's not gonna be ahead of [Patrice Bergeron] and [David Krejci]. But if he goes to the wing, he can add to a line," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "He'll buzz, he'll create energy, he'll support pucks down low…we think he's a real good fit in the bottom six. We talked to him about maybe moving up to third-line center. Maybe there is something there now…I look at it more like that.
"Can he grow from the third, fourth line? I think he can add to the top six at times…like Buffalo, he'll go on the forecheck and get pucks. But I think in general he's better suited at the bottom of the lineup. Hopefully he leads a line."

He did just that on Tuesday. Centering a trio with Joakim Nordstrom and Chris Wagner, Kuraly was planted on the doorstep when Matt Grzelcyk's point shot deflected off of Wagner's leg and right to his stick. Kuraly backhanded the puck by Chicago goalie Cam Ward to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead with 9:40 remaining in regulation.
"I think the three of us wanted to turn the game and get down hill, F1, F2, F3," said Kuraly, who now has four goals on the season. "Wags had a big hit and I think it kind of backs them up a little bit and gets them on their heels. Nordy makes a good play to Grizz and Grizz puts it off Wags and lands on the backdoor to me."
Kuraly followed up the goal with his signature 'Kura-leap' celebration, a moment he will no doubt treasure when he looks back on his first Winter Classic experience.
"It was really a lot of fun," said Kuraly. "It was good to have family here and a ton of friends…it was just a pretty awesome venue. You never know if you're gonna be a part of another one.
"I think it was a special night and I tried to take as much in as I could. But it is a hockey game and you have to play well and that's the goal, but now I think we can enjoy it a little bit."

Tuukka Shuts Door

Following much speculation, Tuukka Rask got the start for the Winter Classic - and he did not disappoint. Rocking his customized, Notre Dame-themed mask, the netminder stopped 36 shots, including a stellar save on a Patrick Kane breakaway late in the first, for his second consecutive victory.
"Tuukka's now strung a couple together, solid wins," said Cassidy. "I think we were good in front of him in certain spots. Second period it got away from us and he made some good saves, end of the first period big stop on Kane. I was happy for him.
"We want to get him in a rhythm here where he's playing well and gives us a chance to win every night. That's two in a row now, so hopefully he can build off that."

Top Trio Rolls On

While Kuraly ended up as the hero, it was Boston's top line of Marchand, Bergeron, and David Pastrnak that once again led the way. All three notched goals and combined for 5 points in the victory.
"You have these kinds of players that are your best players and definitely they showed it tonight," said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. "Obviously they all scored. They were obviously a big part of our win. That's been like that for most part of our season."

Arriving in Style

The Bruins arrived to Notre Dame Stadium donning some dapper vintage suits, embracing the throwback nature of the event with a nod to the Netflix show 'Peaky Blinders'. Bergeron said the idea was born during the team's Halloween party.
"The idea started with, we had a Halloween party and a lot of guys dressed up as Peaky Blinders, and kind of by the end of the night we wanted to do that for the Winter Classic," said Bergeron. "That's how it started and we all loved the idea and ran with it."
Cassidy, admittedly not much of hat guy, opted to wear one on the bench, at the last moment borrowing Brandon Carlo's rimmed cap.
"Someone recommended it…Brandon Carlo," said Cassidy. "If you see him walking around with a hat that looks a lot like mine, it's not mine it was his. I took a chance. I'm not usually a fashionista…went with it."