GOLD STAR
After missing the past eight games with an upper-body injury, Jake DeBrusk stormed back into the lineup with the first two-goal game of his pro hockey career, along with three points and three shot attempts in 16:19 of ice time. DeBrusk’s first goal turned out to be the game-winner as he stuffed home a slick Ryan Donato pass from behind the Florida net, and his second goal was the cherry on top of the sundae in the second period as the Bruins really took it to the Panthers. The plus-3 rating for DeBrusk also tied with David Krejci and Ryan Donato for the team lead on Saturday, and made a pretty resounding statement that he wants to stick in that spot once the playoffs get going. It’s hard to argue after watching the energetic, productive way that DeBrusk played after missing the last few weeks with an injury.
BLACK EYE
Michael Haley gets a literal black eye rather than the figurate kind after he made the foolish decision to challenge Adam McQuaid to a fight in the second period. Clearly, Haley was looking for a way to stir up the troops after the Panthers had fallen behind 3-1 in a game they had to have and he decided to challenge No. 54. McQuaid pounded Haley with an uppercut and a number of overhands before dropping him to the ice in a pretty savage beating by today’s NHL standards. Haley finished with five hits in 10-plus minutes and collected another minor penalty as well, but getting his hat handed to him by McQuaid was the most notable thing he did in the entire game.
TURNING POINT
Boston Bruins
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HONORABLE MENTION
BY THE NUMBERS
200 –
QUOTE TO NOTE
Bruce Cassidy
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