Fine young Howe do you do
McAvoy, fellow rookies show punch
Charlie McAvoy has been checking items off his hockey to-do list at a frantic pace the past year or two as he makes the impressive transition from Boston University to the Boston Bruins.
McAvoy added a big one last night at the Garden with a Gordie Howe hat trick, which means he had a goal, an assist and a fight.
It was one of several noteworthy accomplishments by the youngest Bruins, who all seemed to have memorable nights in the 7-2 rout of the disinterested Columbus Blue Jackets.
“Oh man, it definitely wasn’t on the list,” McAvoy said with a laugh about his Gordie.
But he knew, given his raucous style of play, his first NHL fight was bound to come along.
He didn’t imagine he’d also net a sweet power-play goal on a one-timer from the left circle off a feed from Jake DeBrusk (goal, two assists) and an assist on a score by Danton Heinen (goal, two assists).
“I definitely try to play the game with a lot of pas- sion,” McAvoy said. “That’s something that (Howe did, too).
“Stuff like that is going to happen. There’s been times along the way this year where something like that might have happened. But (last night) it just did. It happened pretty quick. I felt like I was able to protect myself pretty well.”
On his very first day as a pro last season at a practice with the AHL Providence Bruins, McAvoy got a quick fighting lesson from rugged winger Tyler Randell.
“I worked with (him) for about 15 minutes out in neutral ice after practice,” McAvoy said. “He taught me how to protect myself. He’s a good guy to learn from.”
So it was, 53 seconds into the third period, that the 6-foot McAvoy got engaged along the end boards with 6-foot-3 Jackets rookie Pierre-Luc Dubois, and the pair of 19-year-olds went at it. It was the first pro fight for both, though Dubois had three in his Quebec junior loop.
Neither greenhorn did much damage, but McAvoy was the aggressor, tossing an uppercut and a pretty good overhand right and ending the bout by putting Dubois down on the ice as the sellout crowd — and his Bruins teammates — went wild.
“He’s a strong kid,” veteran Bruins forward David Backes said. “Their young guy was defending himself, too. It was great to see a couple of young guys play a little old-school hockey. Both guys I think showed themselves well. That’s half the battle, showing up.
“I think both teams were pleasantly surprised with their guys standing up for themselves. We ended up picking even further after that. (It was) a great job by him, a Gordie Howe hat trick. (For) a 19-year-old, I could not be happier for him.”
In his heart, coach Bruce Cassidy probably prefers his talented Calder Trophy candidate not to regularly drop the gloves. But he had no problem with this one.
“No, I think those are situations, it’s two young guys, that’s legit,” he said. “He’s going to have to do it periodically because he hits hard.
“You’d hate to see him get overmatched in a certain situation or go out looking for it when it’s unnecessary. I think that (fight) just came together. It happens. He did very well. He’s a strong kid. I don’t know if historically (he’s fought), but he’s so strong he’ll be able to handle himself. I think he’s 1-0. Good for him.”
Good for McAvoy, too, that he did a very nice David Pastrnak imitation in one-timing DeBrusk’s cross-ice feed past reigning Vezina Trophy winner and Hart (MVP) finalist Sergei Bobrovsky, putting the puck high on the short side before the goalie could move across.
“That’s a play I’ve seen (Brad Marchand) do 1,000 times,” DeBrusk said. “I saw a seam open, and Chuck finished it pretty good. (He) went upstairs pretty well.”
So it was a monster night for the new generation of Bruins. If they can keep this up, this will be an interesting season. Cassidy told the kids this game would be a good test for them.
They passed with the highest marks.