SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — As the games kept piling on without a goal this season, the stress kept increasing for Jake DeBrusk.
The top-six forward, who signed a seven-year, $38.5 million deal with Vancouver in the offseason after spending seven years with Boston, had yet to score with his new team nine games in.
DeBrusk finally scored his first on Saturday night in the Canucks’ 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks — before the drought reached double digits — with a crucial third period goal that helped Vancouver win a thriller on the road.
The 28-year-old ripped a wrist shot past Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood’s glove with just under 5 minutes to play in the third, giving the Canucks a 2-1 lead.
Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said that despite not scoring prior to Saturday, DeBrusk has been fitting in well with his new team, slotting in on the top line alongside J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser on Saturday. Miller made sure to grab the puck as a souvenir for DeBrusk.
“Hell of a shot,” Tocchet said. “I mean, that was dialed. That’s probably the only place he could have scored. That’s a goal-scorer’s goal.”
DeBrusk had 19 goals for the Bruins last season, but also did not score his first goal until nine games in last season on Nov. 2.
“Hopefully I can get a couple more earlier next year, so that I know I have an automatic one on (Nov. 2nd),” DeBrusk joked.
But DeBrusk, who has four assists on the season, said that it’s been hard not to fixate on scoring, especially with adjusting to being on a new team.
“I think I’m getting a little more comfortable, but at the same time — every game that goes by, you just kind of feel it more and more,” DeBrusk said. “You always want to get the first one as fast as possible. It took me a lot longer than other guys, but I’m happy to help in a win.”
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Eric He, The Associated Press
