“We were just playing hard and physical, and that just happens as a result of that,” Kastelic said. “Hopefully, it gave everybody a bit of juice. I think it’s never really my mindset when I’m in that kind of situation, but I definitely think the guys had a good start to the second period.”
To pair with his signature edge, Kastelic has been one of the Bruins’ top performers in the faceoff circle; he has a 58.3% success rate thus far. Sturm noticed Kastelic’s knack for winning draws, and now deploys him at the start of every overtime to get the puck for his team, and change right after. Is Sturm throwing Kastelic a bone? No, the head coach says. He just wants the best guy out there for the task.
“We want the puck, first of all. We think with him, getting it right from the faceoff, he’s our best guy as a righty,” Sturm said. “And now he’s already waiting for it. That’s the best part. I talked to him about it, and he’s like, ‘Yes, that’s my job, I want to do that.’ As soon as it’s OT, I can see him looking.”
Kastelic won the opening faceoff during Saturday’s overtime. While it may seem like a small part of the game, it can be the difference in wins and losses. And it has also been the difference in Kastelic’s growing confidence.
“It is a great opportunity for me to just do a job for the team and feel like I have a role. It’s just little moments like that where I feel like I just take a lot of pride in, personally,” Kastelic said. “It is great to feel that trust from the coaching staff to get put in those big moments. It’s been pretty cool to go out there. The boys definitely have been – it’s such a little thing – but they hype me up so much. It is awesome to see.”
As the Bruins continue to work through injury adversity, Kastelic has emerged as a dependable bottom-six piece who has fortified the group while shorthanded. His average ice time has gone up from 10:44 last season to 13:43 this year, and he is on pace for a career showing in points.
It has been a welcome surprise for Sturm, who knows a lot more about Kastelic now than he did two months ago.
“I just see him as more of a winger, powerful – but I never thought I would use him probably that much, either. So that is on him,” Sturm said. “He grew with his role, he grew as a penalty killer and he does it extremely well. I’m very happy with how he came along the last three months, I would see. I didn’t see it coming either, I have to say that. So good for him.”