DeBrusk Hopes to Build on Shootout Winner

BOSTON - Jake DeBrusk did not formally figure into the scoring on Thursday night.
But his efforts were just as important as any when it came to the Bruins securing a come-from-behind win over the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden. The fourth-year winger delivered a nifty "kick-and-float" move in the third round of the shootout to help lift the Black & Gold to a much-needed victory in the home opener.
DeBrusk, who remains without a point through four games, hopes that the winning tally serves as a building block for his game as the season enters its second week.

"It's nice to produce and help the team out," DeBrusk said following Friday's practice at Warrior Ice Arena. "Obviously that's something that I'm here to do. When I got my name called there, I didn't know it was gonna be the winner, but I wanted to score, and it was definitely a good feeling early in the season.
"To get a look like that, I wanted to make the most of my opportunity and I went with the move that I thought would work, and it did...was nice to do my part."
The 24-year-old did not settle on his shootout move until he crossed the blue line when he decided for a floater over the right shoulder of Flyers goalie Carter Hart. DeBrusk, who added a right leg kick as he wound up for the shot, said that he practiced the move during training camp.
"I've definitely done that move before…you never really know what you're gonna do," said DeBrusk. "I actually was originally gonna go low glove but saw that he was kind of leaning over there so it worked out perfectly. One of those moves if I miss the net or he makes the save, it doesn't look that pretty.
"Very happy it went in the net. It's one of those where it's more placement than anything else, more just getting it over his blocker. Was nice to see the puck go in for the first time this year."

DeBrusk acknowledged that it was a bit eerie standing at center ice without the normal buzz from the crowd during a shootout. Whether it's the boos of the opposing crowd on the road or the raucous cheers of support from the TD Garden faithful, shooters often get a boost from the fans during those decisive moments in a game.
"It's different without fans, it's really quiet in a shootout setting," said DeBrusk. "Usually, you either get booed or they cheer for you. It's just what you're supposed to do. You're one-on-one with the goalie and obviously feel a little bit of nerves, but it's more so focus…focus, especially with that kind of a move, where the puck is gonna go.
"You don't want to think too, too much…you kind of get in your mind a little bit. Once I came across the blue line, I knew what I was gonna try to do."
For the last two games, DeBrusk has found himself in an unfamiliar spot in the lineup, skating on his off-side with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. With David Pastrnak still rehabbing from offseason surgery and Ondrej Kase sidelined by an upper-body injury, DeBrusk was bumped up and is aiming to make the most of his time with Boston's two top-line stalwarts.
"I've played a couple shifts with [Bergeron] over the years but nothing consistent. Definitely a little bit different playing with him and March, both very good players," said DeBrusk. "Bergy is so good defensively and always in the right spot. Just trying to make sure that I can win pucks down low for them and create second and third opportunities, make some plays.
"Watched the video today. I thought it was the best game we've had so far…[we] want to get on the board 5-on-5 and start producing that way, but we're doing the right things right now. Brandon [Carlo] got rewarded off a shift we had down low."
Carlo's third-period tally gave the Bruins a 4-3 lead over the Flyers on Thursday and was the team's third even strength goal of the night, as Boston finally broke through after being shut out at 5-on-5 over the season's first three games. The comeback win also marked the B's second shootout victory of the season, which is two more than they had during the entire 2019-20 campaign.
"It's kind of a character-building moment for our team," said DeBrusk. "Obviously, Philly's a good team over there and we've had some struggles here scoring some goals. We needed to score to get back in the game. The leadership group in between periods, we all were positive and had faith in each other. It was just a matter of going out an executing. I think the first goal [from Jack Studnicka] got us going…we started rolling from there."

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy was pleased with DeBrusk's overall effort and believes he complemented Marchand and Bergeron well throughout the night. Ultimately, he said, it will be about DeBrusk delivering that kind of detailed game on a consistent basis.
"I thought it was a solid game for JD," said Cassidy. "We mixed him in a bit later in the game in the third when we were down because we thought he was going; made a nice play to assist in the puck recovery on Carlo's goal and that's what we're always asking of Jake.
"We don't coach him up on his shot or his footspeed. It's about the details, like a lot of young kids, and for him, the second effort. It's a second effort league. When he's on pucks with his footspeed, he's got a good stick, and he has a chance to stop on it and stay in the battle, he's a really good player.
"That's what we're looking for on a nightly basis…I thought there was much more of it [on Thursday], so he did his part on that line."

Maintenance Men

The Bruins had a smaller group out on the ice for Friday's practice at Warrior Ice Arena as five players - Patrice Bergeron, Matt Grzelcyk, David Krejci, Brad Marchand, and Kevan Miller - were give maintenance days and did not skate. Grzelcyk, who was banged up for the second straight game after falling awkwardly on his left leg on Thursday night, is expected to play on Saturday against the Flyers.
"Grizz actually felt pretty good, didn't go out on the ice obviously, but he'll try it in the morning. I suspect that he'll play," said Cassidy. "Again, maintenance to the other guys. Miller's been good in camp. He worked really hard and hasn't had a lot of time off so his was, 'Hey, let's just take a day.' Bergy, March, a lot of minutes, Krech.
"Grizz was the guy that got hurt [Thursday] night, went into the boards awkward, but knock on wood nothing serious this morning. Let's keep him off and get him ready for [Saturday]."

Finding A Groove

For much of training camp, Charlie Coyle had new winger Craig Smith on his right side. Despite some shifting due to injuries and the B's lack of offense, the duo is beginning to build a bit of a rapport, which was evident on Coyle's first goal of the season on Thursday night.
As Smith filled in for a pinching Kevan Miller at the right point and quickly fired a snapshot toward goal, Coyle circled through the slot and found Smith's rebound. Coyle spun around and wristed one by Hart to tie the game at 2 just over two minutes into the third period.
"Usually, you know where the puck is gonna go so it's easy to read off him, especially on that goal," said Coyle. "He covers the point, Millsy makes a great play to keep it in and pressure the guy, goes right to Smitty out at the point, nice rebound…you just know how to read off of him, you know where it's gonna go. Just get to that net and either he's scoring or it's gonna be a rebound."

Getting Going

Cassidy confirmed that the Providence Bruins opened training camp on Thursday ahead of their season opener on Feb. 5 against Bridgeport. The P-Bruins will play their home games at New England Sports Center in Marlborough, Mass., this season with the Dunkin' Donuts center unavailable because it is being used for various COVID-19-related initiatives by the state of Rhode Island.
The players that did not make the Bruins' roster or taxi squad out of training camp - among them Anton Blidh, Paul Carey, Matt Filipe, Cameron Hughes, Karson Kuhlman, Robert Lantosi, Zach Senyshyn, Oskar Steen, Jack Ahcan, Nick Wolff, Jeremy Swayman, and Callum Booth - have reported to Providence.
"All should be there now and then we'll make decisions down the road if we're gonna juggle our taxi squad once they've kinda skated a bit," said Cassidy. "We did have guys that we thought could be potentially on [the Boston roster] with Kuhlman and Blidh that never really participated much in camp so that's where they are."
Cassidy went on to say that veteran defenseman Steven Kampfer remains away from the team to tend to a personal family matter.