DeBrusk steps up against Bruins with game-winning goal in Boston’s return, originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON – Jake DeBrusk scored 85 goals at TD Garden during his seven seasons with the Bruins, including several goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

One goal he will never forget is the one he scored Tuesday night in his return to Boston as a member of the Vancouver Canucks.

The Bruins released DeBrusk in free agency in July, and he paid them back in his first game by scoring a power-play goal in the first period that ultimately became the game-winner in a 2-0 victory for the Canucks.

The Bruins challenged DeBrusk’s goal for a possible handpass, but the review went in the Canucks’ favor and the goal was allowed.

“That was probably the weirdest game I’ve played since my very first game ever,” DeBrusk told reporters afterward. “That was my mental state, but the boys were great. Kept me in and kept encouraging me and all that.

The Bruins outscored the Canucks almost the entire game, especially in 5-on-5 action, and held a 33-15 edge in shots on net. But the difference was that DeBrusk buried one of his scoring opportunities and his former teammates did not.

“You can think about anything you want to think about, but when it counts and you’re on the ice, it’s about getting the two points,” DeBrusk said. “It obviously means a lot for a guy like me to get the win. I thought they actually played a great game. “I think this is the best I’ve ever seen them, where they were shooting pucks from everywhere, and we were just kind of playing a defensive style.”

The Canucks were quite excited to have DeBrusk on the bench as the final seconds came off the clock in the third period:

DeBrusk now has six goals and eight assists in 20 games for the Canucks. Goals often come in bunches for the 28-year-old forward, and after not scoring once in his first nine games with Vancouver, DeBrusk has scored six goals in his last 11 games.

The Bruins could certainly use someone with DeBrusk’s scoring ability right now. The shutout loss to the Canucks marked the fourth time the B’s have been held without a goal in 23 games this season. Last season they were only eliminated twice. The Bruins are the lowest scoring team in the league at 2.22 goals per game, and their power play ranks 32nd with a 12.4 percent success rate.

One wonders if the Bruins’ offense would have struggled as much had they retained DeBrusk, who averaged 23.6 goals during his last three seasons in Boston.