Not much has gone right for Erik Haula in his first year with the Boston Bruins.
Over his first 11 games with the team, Haula had registered just a single point, an assist way back in the season opener against the Dallas Stars, and was a minus-6 rating, second-worst on the team. His ice time finally dipped below 10 minutes Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers, when he skated just 9:16 in a 5-3 loss.
Haula finally took the first step in turning things around Saturday, however, breaking open scoring 17:37 into the first period of a game the Bruins would go on to win, 5-2, over the New Jersey Devils.
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"It's a good feeling when the first one goes in," Haula said after the game. "You can forget about that one and start thinking about the second one."
Haula, 30, joined the Bruins in the offseason on a two-year, $4.75 million contract after spending last season with the Nashville Predators. He had a career year in 2017-18 for the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, tallying 55 points (29 goals, 26 assists) but has otherwise never topped 34 points in a single season or 15 goals scored in any other campaign.
Haula centered Boston's third line Saturday, with Jake DeBrusk to his left and Karson Kuhlman to his right.
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"I definitely could have had a few already, I've had the chances," Haula said.
With scoring outside of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak still hard to come by, anything Haula can contribute for the Bruins will be a plus.