In a blink of an eye — a furious rush up the right wing — Jake DeBrusk solidified his spot in Boston sports lore in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
DeBrusk received the puck around his own blue line on his off wing. He burst up the side, beat Toronto defenseman Jake Gardiner wide, then cut in toward the goal. Avoiding a stick check and taking a hit instead, DeBrusk unleashed a low shot that slithered through Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen and into the back of the net.
"I think it was four-on-four, I believe, and I don’t get out there for four-on-four too much so I just went to the net and kind of caught their defenseman off-guard right away with just my speed," began DeBrusk. "Then I tried to make a move and actually tried to raise it and I didn’t even see it go in. I just heard the crowd go pretty nuts and it was a very special feeling, especially making it 5-4 at that point."
The Bruins never looked back and finished off the Maple Leafs, 7-4, to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals and a date with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It was DeBrusk’s second goal of the deciding game and his fifth of the series. It was certainly a coming-of-age moment for the 21-year-old, who was selected with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NHL draft.
"He’s quite the player, for sure. I think that you’re starting to see him really blossom. He’s done a great job for us," said Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller.
It’s one thing for a young player to have speed and skill, but what set De-Brusk apart in the first round was his ability to combine his physical attributes with an uncanny desire and willingness to go into the difficult areas of the ice.
"He’s got a combination. We call it a little greasiness to get to the hard areas of the ice. He’s got a deceptive speed about him, and he wants to score goals," said Bruins general manager Don Sweeney.
Earlier on in Game 7, DeBrusk scored the Bruins’ first goal of the game to tie the score, 1-1. The Edmonton, Alberta, native got his stick on the ice in traffic in front of the net to tip a David Pastrnak shot into the net.
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"He scored going to the net, dirty areas. Get into the inside, be willing to get hit, fight for your space, and that’s playoff hockey," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "They weren’t freebies. He’s around the net. He’s been real greasy, as advertised."
If the youngster in his first NHL Stanley Cup playoff series was feeling any nerves, he certainly didn’t show it. He finished the series with two assists to go along with the five goals. There were a few other near misses, and he came up with clutch goals in big moments.
"It was incredible. He has been a big player for our team all year. You could tell he was feeling it (in Game 7) and all series. He was a big player for us. When he got that speed going, he can be very dangerous with that puck. He stepped up big for our team," said Brad Marchand.
Despite not having the biggest frame (6 feet, 188 pounds), DeBrusk has a knack for being strong on pucks and playing a heavy game. It’s a characteristic that many of the Bruins’ veterans notice and respect.
"There’s something inside of him that not many guys have," Bruins defenseman Torey Krug said. "He hounds the puck. He stays on it. We saw it all throughout the series, whether it was up in Toronto, that play he made where he’s climbing down the boards and three guys take a run at him and he hits a guy back door. When he wants it, he’s going to get it, so he’s a great player for us. You need contributions from your young guys, and he was a big part of it."
As is the case with most young players, finding consistency is a big part of finding success and being recognized as an elite player in the NHL. DeBrusk posted 16 goals and 27 assists in 70 regular-season games this year as a rookie, but he had to be pushed by the coaching staff at times.
"He had his legs the whole series. The issue we had with Jake during the year was that consistent push, use your legs, use your feet, because he’s young and he’s got them. He can really get on pucks and make people uncomfortable," Cassidy said.
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"I was happy for him. He’s a good kid. He’s worked hard and he’s really contributing for us," added Cassidy, who won his first playoff series as the bench boss of the Bruins.
DeBrusk is far from the only young player making headlines for the Bruins as they look to continue this surprise season. Danton Heinen had a goal in Game 7 and Charlie McAvoy played his best game of the series, despite still being bothered by a lower-body injury.
"We had good production from our young guys, a number of them. We play them regularly, give them lots of responsibility, but the back story to that is the veteran leaders, the big brothers," Cassidy explained.
"You know, (David) Backes and (Riley) Nash with Heinen, and (Bergeron) with (Anders) Bjork at the start of the year, and (David Krejci) with DeBrusk, and Charlie (McAvoy) and (Zdeno Chara) and (Matt) Grzelcyk with (Kevan Miller). Every guy seems to have a support person there that’s been there and done it," continued Cassidy.
The veterans have done a remarkable job incorporating the younger players and providing a mature environment that allows them to grow and succeed.
"We talked all along about our young players. They always find a way to step up, get better and learn. It’s a special group. It’s fun for us veterans to help them along and move forward. The character these young guys have is special," Bergeron acknowledged.
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DeBrusk credited the older players with setting the tone and creating a winning culture that is vital to any team’s success.
"I think it starts with the leaders in the room. I think that we had a talk and lots of guys were speaking up and talking about past experiences and how we didn’t want this group to end. Have no doubt and believe in ourselves," De-Brusk said.
As the young guys continue to make a name for themselves in Boston, it will be the establishment that keeps Bruins fans heading back to the TD Garden as the warmer weather encroaches on the city.
"We’re not here without the core group obviously, but we’ve supplemented them with some good young guys that can play and are respectful, that want to learn," Cassidy concluded. "You can be good, but if you don’t want to learn, obviously, the veteran guys, after a while will say, ‘Hey if this guy doesn’t want it, then we’ll just move along.’"
