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Charlie McAvoy #73 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at TD Garden on December 18, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.
(Dec. 17, 2017 – Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images North America)

By: Andrew Thompson                                                                   Twitter:@godwentwhoops

The Boston Bruins have had to rely a lot on their younger players this season. This forced the Black and Gold rookies to learn as they go, and it certainly caused a lot of growing pains. As the season has progressed, the young Bruins have taken those lessons to heart and have shown that they can play a consistent 60-minute hockey game against some of the best teams in the NHL.

 

The young Bruins put up three of the B’s seven goals on Monday night. Danton Heinen, Charlie McAvoy, and Jake DeBrusk all lit the lamp for Boston (earning a total of eight points in the process).  These three young players have certainly put in the effort this season for the Black and Gold. They are now ranked fourth, sixth, and seventh respectively on the team in points this season.

Charlie McAvoy was the total package player for Boston tonight. McAvoy earned his first Gordie Howe hat trick of his career. He earned the goal in the second period, and the assist and the fight in the third. McAvoy finished with two points, a plus-2 rating, and four hits. Not bad for just 19:41 of ice time.

McAvoy earned the first Gordie Howe for the Bruins since the B’s captain Zdeno Chara tallied one back in 2013. After the game, the 19-year old McAvoy commented on his first Gordie Howe. He’s already just one behind the legend Howe, who only had two of those hat tricks in his career.

Danton Heinen earned First Star of the Game Honors for his one goal, three-point performance tonight. Heinen put in his three points in just 13:15 of ice time. Jake DeBrusk had a similar three-point performance as well, putting in four shots on goal, a plus-2 rating, in just 12:03 on the ice.

The young players were everywhere they needed to be, especially on McAvoy’s power-play goal. The five players on the line for that goal were Patrice Bergeron and four rookies. The team played like seasoned professionals against one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference.

The Boston Bruins have asked an awful lot of their large rookie contingent. While it was a rough start for those young players, they’re showing that they can rise to any challenge given them. With the veteran players (more-or-less) finally back in the lineup, the Black and Gold look like a team on the rise. They’ve improved leaps and bounds over their ugly October and November and are primed to claim and hold onto a playoff position.