Canucks Game Day: Jake DeBrusk’s timing is right for vengeful night

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Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins

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When/where: Tuesday, 4 p.m., TD Garden

TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650

The buzz: Jake DeBrusk had his moments to remember and forget in seven seasons with the Bruins.

The big winger had a pair of 27-goal campaigns and another where he netted 25. However, the 14th overall selection in the 2015 draft also had prolonged scoring slumps — and even a trade request that was later rescinded — and free agency was his ticket to get market value and term.

The Canucks thought the same.

They knew DeBrusk was at his best in the playoffs last spring, and that is what they are banking on. Find your feet, get your game in order, and have a postseason presence. DeBrusk led the Bruins with 11 points (5-6) in 13 playoff games, was second in hits (53) and second among forwards in blocked shots (16).

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DeBrusk, 28, also learned “The Boston Way” of versatility and compete by aligning with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand and also taking shifts with David Pastrnak. It is why the highly coveted left winger signed a seven-year, $38.5-million US free-agent contract here to bring size, bite, versatility, production and a more complete game.

Once again, DeBrusk started slow with no goals in his first nine Canuck games. However, he found mojo on the road, and all of his five goals, including two Saturday in a 4-3 win at Ottawa, have come away from Rogers Arena.

“He’s coming,” Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said Monday after practice at Boston University. “There are a few things in getting used to the system and how we want things done. Last game, he was close to the puck and stopping in piles and just closer to people. That’s when he’s at his best.

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“And when he has a chance, he can just go and take off. The thing is information and talking to Jake every day to give him something — but you don’t want to overload guys. You hear inconsistent a lot and it’s my job to make him consistent.”

For DeBrusk, a second-round playoff loss to eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers spelled the end of his time in Boston, even though he did his part.

“I didn’t want to believe it. But when we lost, I knew it was over,” DeBrusk said Monday. “It hurt. I didn’t think they (Bruins) would do anything different with me and they didn’t. And then your move on.

“But it’s also an exciting second chapter for my career. I feel like I made the right decision. I hope I get a couple (of goals) tomorrow. I’m not going to lie.”

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The history: First meeting of the season. The Canucks split two games in 2023-24. They were blanked 4-0 in Boston on Feb. 8 as Danton Heinen was among the scorers. The Canucks went 0-for-3 on the power play and were held to just 17 shots on goalie Linus Ullmark. On Feb. 24 at home, Brock Boeser’s second goal gave the Canucks a 3-2 overtime win. J.T. Miller had three assists, eight hits.

The hope: Boeser is good to go after suffering a concussion Nov. 7 on a brutal illegal and blind-side check to the head that resulted in a three-game suspension for winger Tanner Jeannot. Boeser had four goals in his previous seven games before being sidelined.

“He looked good today,” added Tocchet. “I’ll talk to him to see if he’s ready to go tomorrow (Tuesday). He hasn’t had any (symptoms) the last bunch of days and we sped it up (pace) a little bit today.

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“He’s our scorer. You want a guy who can add offence and stay to our identity. He’s good without the puck.”

The fear: Losing discipline against former teammates Nikita Zadorov and Elias Lindholm. A penalty kill that’s so good on the road with 22-for-27 efficiency provides the Bruins’ last-place power play with some life.

The top guns: A resurgent Elias Pettersson has 10 points (4-6) in his last seven games. Kiefer Sherwood has five points (3-2) in his last five games and has scored in three straight.

The wounded: Canucks: Thatcher Demko (knee, IR), Brock Boeser (concussion, day-to-day), Derek Forbort (knee, IR), J.T Miller (leave of absence, IR). Bruins: Hampus Lindholm (lower body, IR).

The quote: “We did a good job of managing the puck and played a smart game and a really terrific game.” — Rick Tocchet after 4-3 in Ottawa on Saturday.

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The projected lineup: 

DeBrusk-Pettersson-Sherwood

Joshua-Suter-Garland

Heinen-Blueger-Boeser*

Hoglander-Raty-Sasson

Hughes-Hronek

Soucy-Myers

Brannstrom-Juulsen

Lankinen

(*Boeser playing decision at game-day skate).

The prediction: The Canucks take advantage of the Bruins in transition with new interim coach after Jim Montgomery was fired and hired Sunday by St. Louis. Boston is lowest scoring team.

(FAN FORUM: Do you have a specific question for a player? Pass it along to @provincesports and we’ll get it in a future edition.)

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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