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Bruins Notebook: DeBrusk hitting another high note vs. Leafs

Originally posted on Boston Sports Journal
By Joe Haggerty | Last updated 4/26/24

Jake DeBrusk has been one of those Boston Bruins players that has always enjoyed playing the Toronto Maple Leafs, particularly during the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Bruins winger has three goals and five points in three postseason games played thus far against Toronto and four of those five points have come on the power play working on a unit with Brad Marchand, Morgan Geekie and Charlie McAvoy among others.

The offensive outburst for DeBrusk has him amongst the top-5 in the Stanley Cup playoff field for both goals and points and gives him a grand total of nine goals and 14 points in 17 career playoff games vs. Toronto in his NHL career. The nine playoff goals against the Leafs are tied with Marchand and David Krejci for the third-most in Bruins history, behind Hall of Fame Bruins legends Phil Esposito (11) and Johnny Bucyk (10).

That’s some pretty high end Black and Gold company for a guy in DeBrusk that struggled a bit during the regular season with 19 goals and 40 points in 80 games. It hasn’t been all overwhelmingly positives for DeBrusk either as he’s a minus-2 overall in the series and has just seven shots on net in the three games against Toronto thus far.

But he’s back in his natural spot on the left wing with Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak in a premium offensive role that should help his parlay his speed and skill into some 5-on-5 offense at this point in the series.

“I don’t know…how I feel about it is we played against these guys now, for me, it’s been three times in playoffs series,” said DeBrusk. “There’s been some big-time battles in them. There are different players, different things, so I wouldn’t say it’s anything consistent because I think the make-up of their team is different than even [2019], which felt like forever ago. That reminds you of certain things when you come and play in the playoffs against them no matter what.

“My first playoff series against them gave me confidence, but in saying that there’s different weapons and there’s different things. I don’t look into it too much. But I’ll try everything I can to keep it going.”

DeBrusk has had some memorable postseason moments against the Maple Leafs as well with his run-in with Nazem Kadri in 2019 that earned the Leafs forward a suspension that helped change the course of that playoff series.

The winger clearly isn’t hoping for that kind of repeat of hockey history but continues to be very effective against a Toronto team that he’s watched since he was a hockey-loving kid growing up in Edmonton.

ONE TIMERS

*The Bruins head coach has mentioned multiple times already in the first round series how his leaders and veteran players on the B’s have led the way with both positive reinforcement and identifying areas where they can improve. That’s exactly what the Bruins coaching staff wants to see and allows them to step back and focus more on matchups and strategies rather than motivation or accountability.

“I back off and listen because it’s a lot more effective when it comes from within [the players],” said Jim Montgomery, when asked about the on-the-bench leadership of a guy like Pat Maroon, in particular. “It’s the same thing with where I like how our captains are with getting better [from Game 3 to Game 4]. Them carrying that message impacts everybody a lot more.”

*Justin Brazeau served as the extra forward at Friday’s Bruins practice with Danton Heinen missing the on-ice portion of the practice session entirely. While the big forward is slowly inching back from his upper body injury, the Bruins bench boss indicated that defenseman Derek Forbort is closer to getting back into playoff action than Brazeau at this point in their injury rehab/recovery timetables.

“He’s getting closer. I don’t think we’re comfortable with a point [toward a date] when we can play him, and Brazeau is still a ways [away],” said Montgomery. “[Derek] Forbort is probably closer [to playing in a game] than Brazeau. But there are so many steps…there’s a conditioning step and then there’s a confidence step.”

*William Nylander skated with the Maple Leafs at Friday’s off day practice and looked like he’s going to be an option for the first time in the series in Game 4. Nylander wouldn’t say what the issue was that kept him out of the lineup, but Hockey Night in Canada’s Elliotte Friedman had previously indicated it was related to a migraine issue.

“It’s personal so I’m not going to get [why he missed time]. It is what it is. There’s nothing to really stress about. You can’t force yourself into the game, so I’ll be ready when I’m ready,” said Nylander, who had 40 goals and 98 points while playing in all 82 games for Toronto this season. “I’ve been skating and everything, so I’m fine.”

This article first appeared on Boston Sports Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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