{"id":556531,"date":"2026-04-20T05:17:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T05:17:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/556531\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T05:17:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T05:17:38","slug":"five-bruins-to-get-their-introduction-to-playoff-hockey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/556531\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Bruins to get their introduction to playoff hockey"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following the morning skate before the Bruins lost to the Sabres<\/a>, 4-3, in Game 1<\/a>, five Bostonians were pushed to the middle at the behest of veteran defenseman Nikita Zadorov.<\/p>\n

The connection? All were hours from making their playoff debuts.<\/p>\n

James Hagens, Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov, Mark Kastelic, and Jonathan Aspirot all entered Sunday with zero postseason games on their r\u00e9sum\u00e9s.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously it was a cool moment,\u201d said Hagens, who opened the game \u2014 just his third in the NHL \u2014 at left wing on a line with Minten and Khusnutdinov. \u201cSo just for all of us, I\u2019ve only been here for two games \u2014 third now. So, everything\u2019s coming at you really quick, but these guys have worked all year, all their careers for this, and it\u2019s really exciting for me to be able to be along for the journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Marco Sturm said he did have a quick chat with Hagens to reinforce staying in the moment and sticking to the things that enabled the rookie to crack the lineup so quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI reminded him that nothing changes. Maybe there\u2019s a little bit of noise here in Buffalo, but other than that, you just got to go with it,\u201d said the Bruins coach. \u201cYou got to enjoy that moment and also don\u2019t have that affect you in these kinds of games, too. So, easier said than done. I think those kinds of players and kids have to go through a few shifts to get things normalized, I would say. But again, that\u2019s just experience and I think the big picture in the long run, it\u2019s just going to help our kids moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hagens had one shot in 11:02 of ice time. Kastelic delivered five hits, second to Zadorov\u2019s six for the most on the team.<\/p>\n

\"FansFans were gathering outside of KeyBank Center hours before the Sabres made their first postseason appearance in 15 years.Joe Hrycych\/Getty<\/p>\n

Does last change matter?<\/p>\n

With home ice for Game 1 and 2, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff has the luxury of the last change \u2014 meaning the Bruins must send their substitutions out first following a stoppage in play.<\/p>\n

It can be a tactical advantage used to exploit perceived favorable matchups. Sturm, however, was not too concerned about it. He feels his lines can hold their own regardless of who they\u2019re facing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the past, Lindy was not really a big matchup guy. He did his thing, so we\u2019ll see where it goes. Maybe he does it different in playoffs, but we don\u2019t really care,\u201d said Sturm. \u201cWe know how we have to play. We\u2019re going to be ready to go. We\u2019re excited. We are bigger, stronger. We are more physical. We just have to be smart, but we got to go after them. And whoever comes in first line, second line, I don\u2019t really care. We try to play our game and not their game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin didn\u2019t put much stock into Sturm\u2019s characterizing his club as \u201cbigger [and] stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the result that matters,\u201d said the Sabres captain. \u201cI don\u2019t know. It\u2019s media. They can say whatever. But it\u2019s the result that matters and we\u2019ve just got to go out there and play our game and play hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"SabresSabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin had 19 goals and 55 assists for a career-high 74 points while producing a plus-18 rating, also a career high.Frank Franklin II\/Associated Press<\/p>\n

Dangerous Dahlin<\/p>\n

Sturm had high praise for Dahlin, who had 19 goals, 74 points, and a plus-18 this season. \u201cI always compare a guy like him with [Colorado\u2019s Cale] Makar. Those are special players. And the thing is, if you let him, he\u2019s going to destroy us basically,\u201d said Sturm. \u201cSo, we cannot allow that to happen. So, then what it means, you know, we need to stop him. And the best thing is [to] finish our checks and make sure when he\u2019s on the ice, we are aware because he\u2019s that good.\u201d Dahlin had two shots and was a plus-1 on Sunday . . . Simon Zajicek was recalled from Providence and served as a practice goalie during morning skate . . . This is the ninth playoff series between the Bruins and Sabres, with Boston holding a 6-2 edge . . . Boston College defenseman Michael Hagens, James\u2019s older brother, has entered the transfer portal according to the New England Hockey Journal\u2019s Mark Divver. Hagens had a goal and 13 points in two seasons with the Eagles.<\/p>\n

Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @globejimmcbride<\/a>.<\/p>\n