"It's important for him," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "Some guys, I think, it probably matters a little more, some guys are fine tuning their games in different ways. For him, when he produces, he always feels better about himself. He's around the puck. The way he scored going to the net, I think those are good positive signs for him.
"He's been with [Erik] Haula in training camp; they seemed to mesh again today. That's a good thing for us. If they can play well together, find some chemistry individually and as line mates."
DeBrusk and Haula have been skating with Nick Foligno for the first few days of camp, forming what is likely to be Boston's new-look third line to start the 2021-22 season. But with Foligno staying behind in Boston, Jesper Froden got the call to play the right wing, though that did not seem to disrupt the chemistry that the duo has built over the course of the first week of the preseason.
Like DeBrusk, Haula also scored twice - tipping home a John Moore slapper at 1:09 of the second period to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead, while also knotting the shootout at a goal apiece with a wrister over Vanecek's left shoulder in the first round.
"He's a smart player," said DeBrusk. "Obviously, he scored a shootout goal and scored [in regulation] as well. Good for him. I don't really look too far in advance. I think you guys all know, I've pretty much played with everybody. I liked playing with him tonight. Was nice to see him score."
Haula also won 17 of 24 faceoffs with a plus-two rating in 18:36 of ice time.
"He was good in the circle, obviously led to a goal, a face-off win," Cassidy said of Haula's tip-in tally. "He's on pucks, he was very engaged in the game. Obviously, the shootout is nice when those guys can finish like that; especially with their speed, they can get some breakaways this year, both him and Jake. I just thing all around it was a good night for him, good way to get going, first game for Boston.
"Even though it's preseason, I think he wants to assert himself. I think it's great if guys can push one another and he was good on the PK as well. Basically, played in every facet for us so good first game for him. Not surprised though, he's been in the league a while, he's produced. We expected him to be one of the more comfortable guys and he was."