Boston Bruins: Jake DeBrusk showing up when it counts

So far these play-offs, the point production has been shared around the Boston Bruins lines. Whereas we’ve typically seen dominance from the top line; this post-season, other guys have been stepping up; 22 year-old Jake DeBrusk included.

Jake DeBrusk may not be the first name that comes to mind when we talk about the Boston Bruins’ offense with other fans. However, fans of the Bruins know that he is the real deal and can dish up the goods when he needs to.

This post-season, not only did he play a significant role in seeing off the Toronto Maple Leafs – his hit on Patrick Marleau was the reasoning behind Nazem Kadri getting suspended after all, thus taking away a certain amount of center depth for them.

We’re talking a guy in his early twenties willing to take a retaliatory hit purely for the benefit of his team and to the detriment of the opposition.

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Beyond the off-puck shenanigans, he has been playing a strong possession game throughout the post season, sporting a Corsi percentage above the 50% marker.

Likewise, he’s also chipped in on the scoreboard; his assist on Saturday night bringing his tally to 2 goals and 2 assists across 12 play-off games this year.

These numbers may not scream amazing, but his line has often found itself tasked with challenging opposition line match-ups. He has seen plenty of time against Cam Atkinson, Artemi Panarin and Matt Duchene in the past three games, rarely not seeing at least one of them at even strength. They’re by no means easy guys to face up against.

To do so as one of the younger members of your team is even more impressive. What’s more is he’s been able to hold his own and across these playoffs still sports a positive +1 plus/minus rating.

Not every player is going to be in the running for a scoring title at season’s end and nor should we expect the lion’s share of points to be coming from lines other than the first.

That in itself is an oversight on how the Boston Bruins line-up on the ice. What we can get though is secondary point production from the young guys and general all round usefulness on the ice, akin to what Jake DeBrusk has been bringing.

With any luck, he continues his current form offering up the odd assist and goal here and there and continues to be a nuisance on the ice, not quite in the Brad Marchand vain but certainly enough to upset the opposition.

Statistics courtesy of Dobber Sports.