By: Jeff Playdon | Follow me on Twitter @PlaydonJeff
Today, Jake Debrusk will be celebrating his 25th birthday. The left-winger has already played four seasons in Boston and looks to provide the Black and Gold with more spectacular moments in the future. In four seasons, Debrusk has already scored 67 goals to go along with 67 assists for 134 points. With the 2020-2021 season already underway, the fiery left-winger looks to help his team in another Stanley Cup run. So, in honor of Debrusks 35th birthday, let’s take a look back at his top five games as a Boston Bruin.
#5 October 5th 2017 vs Nashville
In his NHL debut and season opener for Boston, it didn’t take long for Debrusk to emerge on the scene. With the score tied at one apiece and 5:48 into the second period, Debrusk would score his first career goal and put Boston on top. A quick pass from Krejci found Debrusk in front of Pekka Rinne, and Debrusk would bury the goal. A monumental moment for Debrusk with his father in attendance. Later in the period, Debrusk would get his first career assist when Charlie McAvoy scored and made it 3-1 Boston. The Bruins would hang on and win 4-3, and Debrusk’s NHL Career was off with a bang.
#4 April 2nd 2019 @ Columbus
As the 2018-2019 regular season was drawing to a close and the playoffs were days away, the Bruins looked to gain two more points when they visited the Columbus Blue Jackets. Boston came out the gates on fire when Debrusk scored just 1:58 into the game. The goal wasn’t pretty as it bounced off the back of the net, off of Bobrovsky, and into the net, but it was 1-0 Boston.
Fast-forward to four minutes left in the second period, and Debrusk would bury his second goal of the night and push Boston’s lead to 4-0. A 2-on-1 breakaway led Karson Kuhlman to find Debrusk in front of the net. Debrusk would add an assist halfway through the third period when Karson Kuhlman scored a goal. Boston would win 6-2 and would face Columbus later in the playoffs.
#3 January 9th 2020 vs Winnipeg
In an out-of-conference matchup, the Bruins would host the Winnipeg Jets in the 45th game of the season. Both teams would look to add another win in the win column as the All-Star break was approaching. After Pastrnak scored a goal halfway through the second period to make it 2-2, the Bruins were looking to score the go-ahead goal. 1:11 left in the second period, Jake Debrusk would do just that. Debrusk would skate around a Winnipeg player to get on the breakaway, and Debrusk roofed the puck glove side to make it 3-2.
Winnipeg scored two goals after and made it 4-3, and Boston looked to regain the lead. 8:47 remaining in the third, Pastrnak scored his third goal for the hat trick, and the game was tied at four apiece. Debrusk was credited with an assist, and the Bruins looked to retake the lead. It didn’t take long for that to happen, as just 33 seconds later off the faceoff, Charlie McAvoy ripped a slapshot towards the net, and Debrusk was there for the tip in. The Bruins would hang on 5-4, and Debrusk recorded a three-point night in the victory.
#2 August 17th Game 4 Divisional Round
After a shortened 2019-2020 regular season, the Bruins would find themselves in a playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes. After winning game three 3-1, the Bruins held a 2-1 series lead over Carolina and looked to make it a 3-1 series lead with a game four victory. It wasn’t a pretty start for Boston, as, at the end of two, the Bruins trailed 2-0 and appeared to have nothing left in the tank. But, no need to fear, Debrusk would score a goal 7:26 into the third, and the Bruins were now just trailing by one.
As James Reimer came out to take the puck away from Debrusk, Debrusk would stickhandle left of Reimer and fly over him as the puck rolled in. Boston stayed hot in the third and added two more goals before Debrusk scored his second goal of the game and made it 4-2. Ondrej Kase found Debrusk skating to the front of the net, and Debrusk was able to put the puck behind Reimer. Carolina scored a goal late in the third, but the Bruins would hang on and win game four after trailing 2-0 going into the third period.
#1 April 25th 2018 Game 7 ECQF
In a game seven matchup for the ages, the Bruins would host their rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Boston was up 3-1 in the series but couldn’t close it out in games five and six forcing a game seven at T.D Garden. Toronto took an early 1-0 lead, but Boston answered with a powerplay goal from Jake Debrusk, and the game was tied at one. Game seven was a back-and-forth game with both teams answering each other’s goals.
Boston was forced to come back from three one-goal deficits, and after Torey Krug blistered a shot by Anderson to make it 4-4, the Bruins looked to finally put Toronto in the rearview mirror. Who would answer the call, though? That would be the youngster Jake Debrusk. Four minutes after Krug tied the game, Debrusk went five-hole on Anderson to give Boston the lead.
It was a tremendous display of will for Debrusk as he skated toward the net, received a check from Gardner, and still scored the goal. The Garden erupted, and Jake Debrusk was emerging as one of the Bruins elite players. Boston ended up scoring two more goals and winning game seven.
Debrusk has displayed many highlights for the Black and Gold and hopes to create many more during the 2021-2022 NHL Season. So Mr. Debrusk, on behalf of myself and the entire BNG Hockey team, we wish you a Happy 25th Birthday.
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