It’s been a strange start to the season for Jake DeBrusk. Through his first four games he found himself pointless, despite playing very well. The chances had been there, but the puck luck wasn’t on his side.
That all changed Saturday afternoon. DeBrusk scored twice as the Bruins beat the Red Wings 8-2 at TD Garden for their fourth straight win.
DeBrusk’s first goal was a perfect representation of how his season has gone thus far, except this time the bounce went in his favor. As DeBrusk raced in all alone, his backhander trickled through the pads of Red Wings goalie Jonathan Bernier, barely crossing the goal line.
Was this a sign the tide was changing for DeBrusk? I think so
Later in the game, DeBrusk took a nice feed from Brandon Carlo and notched his second goal of the season.
“Yeah, it was only five games, and I guess that’s pretty small in the grand scheme of things, but it was – it was getting on me and I think I just had some chances where I’d like to do those over again. And it was nice to get a nice break,” said DeBrusk.
“It was a nice pass by Krejci[on the first goal], got a bounce and it was the first bounce I got and I didn’t even know if it went in or not, and kind of how things were going to be honest with you, but it was nice to see that one go in. And then, the second one Brandon [Carlo] made a great play. And it was obviously nice to see that one go in as well. It was nice to just kind of stay calm and now I can move forward and keep building my game.”
Outside of the top line, DeBrusk comes in as the Bruins best goal scorer. As the top line continues to score goals with ease, the Bruins need their secondary scoring to get going. DeBrusk getting the monkey of his back should be the beginning of what should be an improvement from his 16-goal rookie campaign last season.
Part of what has changed for DeBrusk has been the movement on his line. For the second straight game DeBrusk was on the right side, playing his off-wing. The move to the right side has allowed Joakim Nordstrom to slide into the left wing position previously filled by DeBrusk.
“Yeah, they had to [score] sooner or later, right? If it drags on then you start overthinking it, and I think Jake was getting close. Again, he could’ve had three or four tonight, and I think Krech [David Krejci] responded well too,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy.
“He’s trying to get pucks into areas for those guys. I think Nordstrom right now is a nice fit there. He’s got speed on both sides. The way the game is now sometimes just getting going and putting pucks in areas, D are pressing up, it’s hard to slow the game down.”
Nordstrom has been a nice fit on the second line and it’s shown as the line has had its best games in the two games Nordstrom, Krejci and DeBrusk have been together.
With two goals under his belt, and the pressure of getting that first one off of his back, I would think goals will be now become more frequent for DeBrusk.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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