Sean Kuraly is consistently generating chances for Bruins, but frustrations from a snake-bit stretch can’t seep into his overall game

Sean Kuraly couldn’t have asked for a better scoring chance.

With just 29.05% of his faceoffs this season coming in the offensive zone, favorable ice is rarely granted to Boston’s fourth-line center, with the 26-year-old skater often forced to use his wheels and size to generate consistent chances down the opponent’s end of the ice. 

But on Friday night up in Toronto, the pivot was handed a layup off of an ugly turnover by William Nylander, giving Kuraly a chance to skate in unopposed for a Grade-A chance against Frederik Andersen. 

However, his quick release didn’t cause much of a hassle for Andersen, who watched the puck sail far above his head and out of danger — clanging high off the glass behind the Maple Leafs’ net.

Kuraly did little to hide his displeasure, slapping the blade of his stick across the sheet, his head hanging low.

It’s been that kind of year for the bottom-six ace, especially when it comes to O-zone production. 

Even if Kuraly is firmly entrenched in his role as the anchor of Boston’s checking line, the Miami University product has been far from pigeonholed as simply another grinder.

As is to be expected, Kuraly has continued to hone his craft with each full season logged in the NHL, culminating in a performance during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs in which Kuraly led all Bruins in 5v5 scoring during the Stanley Cup Final while leading all forwards in average shorthanded TOI in the playoffs at 2:01. 

After posting 21 points over 71 games last season, Kuraly has often found himself in Grade-A areas despite often starting shifts down the other end of the sheet. Even with his unfavorable Off. Zone Faceoff %, Kuraly actually ranks fifth on the Bruins in terms of individual 5v5 hi-danger scoring chances generated with 10 on the year. 

Still, as that failed breakaway bid can attest, the tangible production has not matched the amount of quality looks that Kuraly has been able to generate this season, with the center limited to just one goal and four total points on the year. And as Bruce Cassidy was quick to note, those frustrations are starting to seep into the rest of his game.



“I think he’s losing sight a bit of what makes them a good line and what makes him a good player,” Cassidy said on Monday. “I think he’s visibly frustrated when he’s not finishing, which I get. Guys want to score. But that shouldn’t then compound or affect the rest of his game. I think it has a little bit. We’ve pulled them aside as a line, especially the assistant coaches. I think the puck is finding Sean, the rest of the line just hasn’t finished. So that’s the good news. 

“But you really have to make sure he understands what his primary goal is — I think that’s our message to him. Consistently, are you a shutdown guy — making life miserable for one of other team’s top-two lines and getting the job done on the penalty kill? 

Kuraly and his line may not get easy defensive assignments, but more and more clubs have managed to capitalize against the B’s bottom six. While Kuraly’s 5v5 goals against per 60 minutes rate last season was tabbed at 1.4 — this year it has risen to 2.59. 

While Cassidy said that any offense that Kuraly can contribute in his role as a defensive counter to an opposing top-six corps and speedy forechecker is “gravy”, the center did admit that it can be hard to refocus in the midst of a shift when such a quality scoring chance is fumbled by a whiffed shot. 

Still, Kuraly concurred with Cassidy in that there are some positives to be had.

“When you have a breakaway and a couple chances to score, you’re frustrated when they don’t go in. I guess you’ve just gotta keep going and realize you’ve got to get over those chances to get more, keep working and realize that you’re getting chances, you're doing the right things and just keep working. 

There’s ups and downs in this thing and sometimes you forget about those times when it’s not going well. Most important thing is we do our job for the team.”

Even if the numbers haven’t exactly been there for Kuraly so far through 20 games, the pivot expects that his line’s offensive numbers will tick up — and opposing totals drop — now that Joakim Nordstrom is fully healthy and back in the fold alongside him and Chris Wagner.

“I think it’s headed in the right direction,” Kuraly said. “I think the three of us, we know what game we want to play. There’s no secrets. There’s nothing new we need to do. We’ve done it and we just want to get back to it and do it as often as we can.”

Stats and graphs via Natural Stat Trick.