DeBrusk was back at it in the closing minutes when he secured the eventual winner with 2:24 left. Hampus Lindholm started things when he lugged the puck from the Boston goal line through the neutral zone before finding David Krejci around the red line. Krejci then dished to Taylor Hall, who made a hard move to the crease creating a rebound that DeBrusk whacked home for a 2-1 advantage.
"It was a great moment," said Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron. "He had some great looks all game. He rang one off the post in the first. He actually had a couple good looks before that. He was in the right areas. We talk about getting to the inside which we didn't do enough in the first two, and he got rewarded. Kudos to him for doing the right things."
DeBrusk has been doing things right for quite some time now as he's built on a strong second half from last season to compile 16 goals and 30 points through 36 games during this 2022-23 campaign, his sixth with the Black & Gold. The Edmonton native is thus on pace to cruise past his career highs in both categories (27 goals in 2018-19 and 43 points in 2017-18).
"It's been great. It's been special," Bergeron said of DeBrusk's growth. "He's a great guy that wants to get better. It's been rocky at times for a few years before that, but he's stuck with it and showed some character. We all believe in him. And he took it upon himself to work on things and areas that he had to work on and he keeps getting better and doing that. Happy to have him on our side."
DeBrusk was not on Bergeron's right for the winning goal, however, as Montgomery had flipped the winger with David Pastrnak earlier in the contest to try to jumpstart the Bruins' sluggish offensive attack. It was a move that DeBrusk understood completely.
"Obviously, they've played together for, probably, since I've ever been here," DeBrusk said of Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak. "They've been unbelievable together. It's a line that is already dangerous but putting Pasta on there obviously brings a different element, brings a different look for our whole lineup, and I think playing with Krejci before, I think always helps with that transition.
"But at the same time, I think that I've learned a lot over the last, probably, year and a half or two years, and how to find out what works for my game no matter who I'm playing with and what role I'm in.
"Honestly just want to help in any way I can, and that's just kind of what everyone in our lineup has. Whoever I get to play with, I want to be able to contribute and try to get the lead back and just go from there."