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Technically speaking, the Boston Bruins have not lost in 2015.
Winners of five straight, and with a 5-0-2 mark in the new year, the Black and Gold have seemingly rediscovered their game; Their defensive structure is where the club wants and expects it to be, and their four-line forward unit has appeared stabilized on a nightly basis.
And though much of that has been credited to the emergence of 18-year-old winger David Pastrnak -- who will remain will the club for the rest of the season after skating in his ninth NHL contest last night -- it’s been the play of another young, inexperienced winger that’s getting the job done for the Bruins.
Forward Craig Cunningham, a fourth-round pick of the club back in 2010 (97th overall) and a Providence Bruins mainstay since 2011, has seized his opportunity on the Bruins’ fourth line and run with it.
“If you look at the lineup right now, that’s the only position that’s open,… Cunningham said of his role on Boston’s fourth-line after Friday’s practice at Ristuccia Arena. “That’s a spot I want to take pride in and become a guy that’s reliable in that role.…
It’s a spot that Cunningham has all but solidified, too, with general manager Peter Chiarelli noting that the Providence call up, now 22 games into his NHL career, has done what they’ve asked of him.
“He’s been good, he’s a guy that we can rely on for faceoffs, he plays center as well, versatility is important for us, and he’s a hard worker,… Boston coach Claude Julien said. “He comes to play every game, he plays hard, he practices hard, he’s a character person. We need his energy, we need his enthusiasm, he’s a smart player and makes a lot of smart decisions.…
Putting an end to a year-long revolving door of fourth-line wingers for the Gregory Campbell line, the 5-foot-9 Cunningham has grown into his role as a much-needed jolt of life for the line.
“I think we’re starting to create a little bit of chemistry and it’s important for us to play with energy, play in the offensive zone, and wear teams down,… Cunningham said of his line with Campbell (and Danny Paille on the opposite wing). “We’re starting to figure each other out, and eventually get to a point where every game we’re playing in the offensive zone and spending the least amount of time in our end.…
Life as an energy bottom-sixer wasn’t exactly something that Cunningham, with 103 goals and 264 points in 330 games in the WHL between Vancouver and Portland during his junior career, knew off the bat. But rather something that Bruce ‘Butch’ Cassidy, Cunningham’s coach down on the farm in Providence, instilled in his game from the moment he arrived in the B’s system.
“[Cassidy] demands a lot from his guys, and his attention to detail is second to none,… Cunningham said. “He doesn’t let you get away with everything and he’s a guy that holds his players accountable. It doesn’t matter if you’re a top-line guy or fourth-line guy, you’re expected to play the right way.…
And though Cunningham’s offensive success found its way to the P-Bruins, it was an emphasis on his all-around game that’s landed him in a fortunate spot on the Bruins’ fourth line.
“[Cassidy] made my transition from junior to pro easier,… admitted the Trail, B.C. native. “When you come out of junior you don’t really know what to expect, and you realize the little things, the little details of the game, and being able to win faceoffs, kill penalties, battle on the boards, things you don’t really think of when everyone’s a scorer in juniors. But when I came here, he and Don Sweeney really pushed that on me.…
It’s the ‘little things’ that have made the difference for countless Bruins that have gone from Canadian juniors to the minors and on to the NHL, and that’s something that Julien recognizes.
“It’s refreshing when players come up and you talk to them and a lot of it is similar to what they do [in Providence] and I think that’s a little bit by design,… Julien said. “You don’t wanna force a coach to coach a different way than what he’s comfortable in, but Butch is one of those guys that sees things a lot like we do, and it’s a real good fit here and an asset for us.…
Skating on the Bruins’ fourth line is a staunch change from the top-six of the P-Bruins, especially for your overall stat-line, but Cunningham knows that a focus on the dot can change that in the blink of an eye.
“[Patrice Bergeron]’s arugably the best faceoff guy in this league, and this team takes a lot of pride in how good they are at the circle,… Cunningham said of learning to grow as a threat at center. “On the fourth line, if you can win faceoffs and start with the puck, you’re gonna play in the offensive zone a lot more.…
For a line with a player with three 20-goal seasons under his belt at the AHL level, that’s an obvious plus.
Ty Anderson has been covering the Boston Bruins for HockeyBuzz.com since 2010, is a member of the Pro Hockey Writers Association's Boston Chapter, and can be contacted on Twitter, or emailed at Ty.AndersonHB[at]gmail.com