In Brandon Carlo, the Bruins might have an X-factor for a decisive Game 7

ST. LOUIS — In a game as unpredictable as hockey, it can be a bit of a fruitless venture when it comes to identifying just a select few that can swing the course of a single game.

Whichever crop of 18 skaters or pair of goalies that take to the ice on any given night have the means to dictate a game, series, season and potential championship with a single shift or clutch stop, while a skittering rebound and a bit of puck luck can immortalize either a franchise center – or a fourth liner with hands of stone — during a Stanley Cup run.

In what will be the first Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final since Boston bested the Canucks on the road back in 2011, Bruce Cassidy and his club will once again rely on its established veteran core to set the tone for a decisive bout against the Blues at TD Garden.

But on a team that has featured 21 different goal scorers over 23 postseason games, the usual suspects like Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Zdeno Chara and Brad Marchand have been far from the only ones carrying their weight during Boston’s latest campaign for the Cup.

As such, it’s only fitting that the Boston’s top X-factor outside of Tuukka Rask on Wednesday might lie in a 22-year-old defenseman still in the midst of his first foray into Stanley Cup Playoff action.



Any offensive contributions are just icing on the cake when it comes to sizing up the way in which Brandon Carlo leaves his fingerprints on a game. But the third-year D-man has made the most of his attempts in the O-zone against the Blues, beating Jordan Binnington twice in the last three games.

But for a player that fits the profile as a steady, stay-at-home blueliner, Carlo is usually best evaluated under the same criteria reserved for offensive linemen in the NFL. If you stand out on game film, it’s usually not a great sign.

But if you ask Cassidy, Carlo has often made himself very noticeable out on the sheet whenever he’s had his number called this postseason. And that certainly isn't a negative for both the defenseman and his team.

“Probably more,” Cassidy said when asked if Carlo’s given all that he can muster this spring. “It's his first playoff. He's a young guy. We didn't know what to expect. He's grown his game. He's a good player, but it's a different animal here. Brandon has really stepped up; I think him and Torey (Krug), you can make an argument they've been our best, most consistent pair.

“Z and Charlie obviously take tough matchups, but so do they. Most teams have two good lines. We're happy to have all four playing at the top of their games, to be honest with you. Brandon is actually chipping in some goals, as well. You need that this time of the year. One was a lucky bounce, but those are great stories.”

While Carlo and Krug might be on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to their playing style out on the blue line, the former’s size and the latter’s playmaking ability has formed a sense of equilibrium on Boston’s second defensive pairing. And so far, it’s given the Blues fits in the Cup Final.

So far this series against St. Louis, Carlo and Krug have been out on the ice together for 70:38 of ice time, often primarily matched up against either of St. Louis’ top-six lines anchored at the pivot by Brayden Schenn and Ryan O’Reilly.

Despite the heavy workload and the daunting defensive assignment, both Carlo and Krug have been superb against the Blues, with Boston holding a 4-2 edge in 5v5 goals over that 70:38 of ice time. During that lengthy stretch, St. Louis has only been able to muster six 5v5 high-danger scoring chances, while Boston holds a plus-11 shot differential (40-29). Impressive numbers against a Blues crew that can pile up shot attempts and tangible shots on goal if the opposing D gets hemmed in on the forecheck.



So far, Carlo hasn’t budged in that regard against some big Blues forwards, but he will be tested on Wednesday, especially with Craig Berube emphasizing on Monday the need for his team to throw its weight around more and scrap to get inside against Tuukka Rask in Game 7. A sound strategy, but one easier said than done if a 6-foot-5 body like Carlo stands in the way.

“There's a lot of things that Brandon brings to the table,” Krug said. “His personality is a big reason why he can go out and play without worrying too much. He's a guy that shows up and works hard. He's got guys in front of him that have showed him that way, whether it's Kevan Miller, Adam McQuaid from years past.

“They've laid that foundation for him where he shows up, works hard, keeps his mouth shut, goes about his business. I think with him, it's always about being assertive, wanting the puck, wanting to make plays with the puck. That's just something that I tried to enforce.”

Wednesday figures to once again be a busy night for Carlo, beyond what will likely be a top-six matchup and regular shifts spent fishing rebounds and loose pucks out of the crease and away from danger.

But where Carlo could truly shine (and put Boston on track to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup on Wednesday) is on a Bruins’ penalty kill that has held St. Louis to just one power-play tally over 18 bids so far this series.

Still, for as much as the Blues have failed to execute during 5v4 play, they can still pepper Rask in net, landing 12 SOG in eight minutes of power-play action in Game 5. Already averaging a team-high 3:20 of ice time on the penalty kill this postseason, the task will often fall on Carlo to put out any fires in Grade-A areas and prevent pucks from sliding out to snipers like Vladimir Tarasenko.

“Well, that’s typically how we play,” Cassidy said last week of Boston’s ability to keep the opposition to the outside. "Big guys like Zee and Carlo, Charlie (McAvoy) make it hard to get in there. You see (Connor) Clifton, he’s a battler. We talked about Torey. That is part of our M.O. all year. The blocking shots, characteristic of our team. That’s why Chris Wagner’s out, Kevan missed a lot of time this year because of blocking shots. That’s something we typically do.”

Fair to say, one shouldn't really expect Carlo to light the lamp once again on Wednesday night. Perhaps you won't even notice him during a tension-filled Game 7. But if Boston seals the deal and parades across the TD Garden ice with Cup in hand, there's a good bet that Carlo played a big part in commencing the festivities.