DeBrusk returns, gets quick goal in Bruins’ win over the Islanders
Jake DeBrusk didn’t hesitate when asked what he missed most about sitting out 17 games with a broken leg: “Scoring goals.”
The Bruins forward didn’t waste any time after missing six weeks, scoring two minutes into the game on Saturday to propel NHLleading Boston to a 6-2 victory over the visiting New York Islanders.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for a while, and I just wanted to get a goal,” said DeBrusk, who scored twice, including the gamewinner, in the Jan. 2 Winter Classic despite playing on a fractured fibula and hadn’t played since.
“I just wanted to get the first one,” he said Saturday. “It was great to get that.”
Trent Frederic had a pair of goals and Linus Ullmark stopped 26 shots for the Bruins, who have won four of their last five games to amass 89 points and the NHL’s best record. Nick Foligno, Patrice Bergeron and Pavel Zacha also scored for Boston.
Kyle Palmieri and Matt Martin scored and Semyon Varlamov made 21 saves for the Islanders.
It was Bergeron’s 20th goal of the season — the 10th straight year, and 14th in his career, that he has reached the milestone.
“He’s the model of consistency in this league,” Foligno said. “He’s a guy that I’ve admired, a long time — and all of us do. He plays the game the right way. I think that’s one of the best compliments you can get as a player. And and he does that.”
Bergeron scored when DeBrusk’s shot hit high off the glass behind the net and bounced back over the net and into the crease. The Bruins captain tipped it out of the air, about one foot from the goal line.
DEVILS 5, PENGUINS 2 >> Nico Hischier had two goals and
two assists, Vitek Vanecek made 29 saves and visiting New Jersey breezed past Pittsburgh. Dawson Mercer had a goal and an assist for the Devils, who also got goals from Jesper Bratt and Dougie Hamilton while All-Star center Jack Hughes had two assists in his return from a lower-body injury as New Jersey improved to an NHL-best 21-4-3 on the road.
Evgeni Malkin scored twice for Pittsburgh to reach the 20-goal plateau. Dustin Tokarski stopped 38 shots but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Penguins lost for the third time in four games.
BLUE JACKETS 4, STARS 1 >>
Adam Boqvist broke a tie early in the third period and the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets put together consecutive victories for first time in more than two months. Boqvist’s goal was his second of the season, and Liam Foudy had the first regular-season goal of his career for the Blue Jackets, who successfully challenged two Dallas goals in the second period. Ty Dellandrea scored the only goal for the host Stars, but the
overturned goals were the story for frustrated Dallas, which lost for the seventh time in nine games.
AVALANCHE 4, BLUES 1
>> Bowen Byram scored twice, and Mikko Rantanen scored his 200th career NHL goal to help visiting Colorado remain in third place in the Central Division. Valeri Nichuskin also scored, and Justus Annunen stopped 19 shots in his season debut to give the Avalanche their third win in their past four games. Sammy Blais scored for St. Louis, and Jordan Binnington made 29 saves.
FLAMES 3, RANGERS 2 (OT) >> Mikael Backlund scored at 1:28 of the overtime period for host Calgary. The power-play goal was assisted by Jonathan Huberdeau and Rasmus Andersson. Down 2-1, New York got a goal from Alexis Lefreniere at 12:48 of the third period that tied the score.
PREDATORS 7, PANTHERS 3 >>
Tommy Novak scored twice and Roman Josi scored a goal and added two assists to lead host Nashville. Ryan Johansen had a goal and an
assist and Matt Duchene, Colton Sissons and Yakov Trenin also scored for the Predators. Kevin Lankinen made 30 saves for the Predators and Ryan McDonagh had three assists, equaling a career high. Nick Cousins, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart scored for Florida.
MAPLE LEAFS 5, CANADIENS 1 >> Michael Bunting scored twice for host Toronto in the Toronto debuts for Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari. The forwards were acquired from the St. Louis Blues in a blockbuster three-team trade late Friday — and were in the action just over 20 hours later. Pierre Engvall, William Nylander and David Kampf scored for Toronto. Joseph Woll made 29 saves. Josh Anderson scored 42 seconds into the second period for Montreal.
CANUCKS 6, FLYERS 2 >> Elias Pettersson scored two goals and had three assists and Anthony Beauvillier scored twice for host Vancouver. Scott Laughton and Morgan Frost scored for Philadelphia.