BOSTON – If there’s one scouting report on Ryan Donato, it’s that he loves to shoot. It didn’t take long for Bruins fans to see that. On his first NHL shift, Donato burst up the left wing, carried the puck around the net and got off a backhander that was turned aside.
Making his pro debut just three days after his college hockey career at Harvard came to an end, Donato finished the night with a goal, two assists and six shots on goal. He wasn’t eased into action either. He saw power play time and earned a shift in overtime. All of that while playing left wing, instead of center as he did in college.
While the night was a success individually, some of the excitement was tempered by a 5-4 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“It was fun. It ended tough. At the end of the day, I was excited. It all went well personally, but it’s still bitter because of the loss,” said Donato, who signed a two-year NHL entry-level contract on Sunday.
Obviously, no player can be expected to keep up a three points per game pace, but if Donato can find consistency in his game, he’ll draw comparisons to the impact Charlie McAvoy has had for the Bruins after leaving college at Boston University.
“It’d be great if he has similar success (to McAvoy). Consistency is a big issue for first year guys. If he can string it together, we’ll make that comparison,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy.
“You look at the greatest NHL players and the greatest asset they have is consistency in their game. That’s something I’ve watched growing up and put into my own game,” said Donato when asked about following up his magnificent debut.
After uncharacteristically passing up on a shooting chance during a first period odd man rush, Donato made sure there was no such miscue 5:41 into the second period. He executed a beautiful give-and-go with linemate David Krejci, finishing it off with a powerful one-timer.
“I liked him a lot and I’m sure Krejci did as well. They had some good chemistry,” Cassidy said.
“It was a whirlwind experience. I blacked out during it. It was a lot of fun. I can’t believe it happened,” said Donato of his first NHL goal.
Later in the period, Donato’s compete and willingness to go the dirty areas were on display during a power play that resulted in a goal from Riley Nash. Playing the net front on the man advantage, he tipped a point shot from Brad Marchand before Nash banged it home.
“He’s on the puck. He’s as advertised in terms of his compete. What makes him attractive is his compete for loose pucks. He keeps pucks alive and makes plays. He’s like [Marchand] around the net. Guys that are hungry for the puck,” complimented Cassidy.
Donato was playing the net front on the power play due to Rick Nash being out of the lineup. The coaching staff wanted to get him on the power play without disrupting the chemistry of the top unit. Donato, used to playing the half wall or the net front in college, was going to play the bumper before Nash became unavailable.
His third period assist came after he helped linemate Danton Heinen win a puck battle along the right wing wall. He skated down towards the goal line and received a pass from Heinen. Donato wasted little time putting a perfect backhand pass right on the tape of Krejci’s stick for a goal that tied the game, 4-4.
Donato skated on the fourth line with Noel Acciari and Brian Gionta during morning skate, but found his way onto the second line due to Rick Nash being unable to play because of an injury. Watching Donato, Krejci and Heinen Monday night, it was hard to believe they hadn’t played together before.
“Not that I didn’t play with great guys at Harvard, but having guys like Krejci and Heinen, when you play with good players you know where they’re going to be,” Donato said. “When I had the puck with my back turned, I could have a sense they were there. They make good plays and got me in good spots as well.”
As regulation was winding down, Donato won another battle for a loose puck in the right wing corner, but his low to high pass to Brandon Carlo couldn’t connect before the buzzer. It was just more evidence of Donato’s compete.
Donato’s best asset will always be his shot. Except for that first period rush where he opted for a pass over taking a shot, Donato did a good job of ripping pucks on net.
“I wanted him to shoot the puck. Early he was trying to make some plays then realized, listen, play to your strengths,” said Cassidy.
Competing for pucks and keeping plays alive will always be areas of his game that fans will appreciate. Playing a complete game in all 200 feet and making the right decisions in his own zone are two aspects of his game that are still a work in progress.
“He did a real good job. I didn’t notice anything away from the puck. I’m sure there will be a few teaching moments once you go back over the game tape and we’ll go from there,” Cassidy commented.
Donato is not a poor skater or too slow for the NHL game, but he’ll never be the fastest player on the ice at this level. The pace of the pro game took him a few shifts to get used to Monday and he’ll have to adapt in other ways to adjust to the increased pace.
“It’s so much faster than anything I’ve ever seen. It’s something you can get used to. When you’re playing with great players, it’ll come along fast,” said Donato.
In addition to his parents and other family, the Scituate, Mass., native was able to dazzle a partisan crowd at TD Garden that also included many of his prep school and college friends from Dexter and Harvard.
“I’m very impressed with that skill to come in here, especially in your hometown. There are some jitters there. It might be easier to do it on the road. There’s a lot of people to impress. Good for him to do it right here in his own backyard,” said Cassidy.
“For me it was a blessing. Some people would think it’s tough because of the commotion with your friends. I couldn’t be happier to have these guys here and have them be here through the whole process,” Donato added.
Donato and his father, his college coach at Harvard, became just the sixth father-son combination to both don a Bruins jersey. No one could blame Donato if Monday night’s game was a surreal occurrence.
“During warm-ups I was kind of taken away. It felt like a dream. I didn’t get that warmed up because I was too focused on everything else and the whole situation. It was an unbelievable experience,” said Donato.
Donato, who had 26 goals in 29 college games this season with the Crimson, said his father gave him a few pointers, but mostly just reminded him that a NHL debut is a once in a lifetime occurrence.
“He gave me a bunch of things about my game, but just told me to enjoy it and have fun. You only have one first NHL game,” said Donato.
“He’s happy for me. I’m lucky to have him and my mom. They’ve been great for my development as a hockey player,” Donato added.
Donato will have a chance at an encore performance Wednesday night in St. Louis, but he has some other unfinished business to attend to first.
“I have a few papers to write,” said Donato who plans on finishing up his semester at Harvard, despite being thrown into a Stanley Cup run.
