It is uncertain what is bothering Nickulas, but it may also involve a groin strain. Who will step forward Bates, Nickulas and Eric Manlow have made up Boston's top line in the playoffs. If Bates and Nickulas can't play then Armstrong will have to reconfigure his lines, which he was doing at yesterday's practice. When the playoffs began, Armstrong said he was confident he had the depth to deal with sudden injuries that would force players to the sidelines. Well, now may be the time.
Lets see what kind of job they can do if they're needed.
Coming off the bench after a stretch of not playing can be a tough adjustment, but Hulst has been through these situations before. I've been around long enough and played in a lot of playoff games, so I'm aware of what needs to be done. We have to play like we're down 2-0 in the series. If we don't have Bates or Nick, we can't think about that. Instead, it will be time for guys not expected to step up their game to step it up.