Boston Bruins recall Craig Cunningham back to NHL.

Sep 26, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Boston Bruins left wing

(61) skates with the puck against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Bruins will be going into tonight’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks down a few forwards. Simon Gagne is in Quebec City spending time with his ailing father, and David Krejci is considered questionable. To compensate for the holes in their roster, the Boston Bruins have recalled Chris Cunningham from the AHL Providence Bruins.

Cunningham will most likely play in Gagne’s slot on the fourth line with Gregory Campbell and Daniel Paille.

So far this season, Cunningham played three games for the NHL club.  He currently has no points, and has put two shots on goal. He got those games in at the start of the season. Cunningham was filling in for the injured Gregory Campbell back then.  He was also called up at the start of their rather ugly west coast road trip. He was sent down when Simon Gagne’s game improved.

Cunningham’s game is solid. The best way to describe his game play is gritty. (One could also say grinder.) He’s a combination of Daniel Paille and Shawn Thornton.  He’s a smaller player (5’9″, 170lbs), but don’t let his size fool you. He’s tough, can play wing or center, and is unafraid to throw his body in the way of an oncoming puck.

Cunningham has twenty points (five goals) tallied so far for the AHL Providence Bruins. He’s only been in the box for eight minutes this season, and that’s an encouraging piece of news. The Bruins have had trouble making silly mistakes this season (and the refs haven’t exactly helped us out with some of their phantom calls either), and Cunningham isn’t likely to add to those troubles.

The puck will drop shortly after 7:05 tonight at the TD Garden.