It wasn’t too long ago that Kevin Shattenkirk was seemingly on the outside looking in at a starting spot on Boston’s playoff roster.
With Jim Montgomery opting for a bit more defensive fortitude further down the depth chart with a pairing of Parker Wotherspoon and Andrew Peeke, Shattenkirk was tabbed as a scratch for three straight games in April.
What a difference a week can make.
The 35-year-old blueliner is not only expected to draw into the lineup for Game 1 against Toronto on Saturday night. He’s also going to be tasked with helping revive Boston’s stagnant top power-play unit.