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Kuhlman back with Bruins after leg injury

Former Cloquet-Esko-Carlton hockey player Karson Kuhlman is back playing with the Boston Bruins in the NHL after suffering the first injury of his hockey career back in October. Kuhlman, who also starred at UMD and led them to a national championship his senior year as captain, was injured when he was hit by a slapshot by Jake DeBrusk, which fractured his tibia.

"It happened back in October," Kuhlman said last week. "I ended up missing about 10 weeks."

Kuhlman finally broke through and scored his first goal of the season in a 4-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks Feb. 4.

"It was nice getting the first goal out of the way," he said. "It helps gain confidence and hopefully more start going in."

Since his return Kuhlman has five points in six games and also had to drop the gloves in his first fight as a professional hockey player when he was challenged by Winnipeg Jets defenseman Luca Sbisa after Kuhlman checked Sbisa's teammate Matieau Perreault.

At this point the Boston Bruins are in first place in the Atlantic Division with 86 points, one point better than the Tampa Bay Lightning. A year ago the Bruins went all the way to the Stanley Cup finals before losing to the St. Louis Blues.

"The season has been going well so far," Kuhlman said. "We have a great group of guys in the lockerroom and that makes it fun going to the rink every day."