Talking Points: Bruins continue unbeaten in the preseason

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GOLD STAR: Jake DeBrusk was all over the place in this game. He scored both of the goals ahead of Kevan Miller’s empty-netter late in the third period and was involved all over the ice while showing some pretty good chemistry with fellow young gun Ryan Donato. It was Donato who connected with DeBrusk for a nifty pass on the winger’s first goal and the two created several offensive chances throughout the game. Perhaps best of all, DeBrusk fought through some kind of stomach bug that kept him out for half of the second period and then scored the game-winner after returning in the third. Nobody would have faulted DeBrusk if he didn’t come back for the third period of a preseason game, but he was almost instantly rewarded for his consistently strong commitment to the B’s. It’s early, but DeBrusk could be in line for some big things this season.

BLACK EYE: The entire team simply wasn’t good in the second period as Calgary dominated play against the Bruins, and controlled things pretty much from beginning to end. It actually looked like the B’s were going to get out of it thanks to some good work by Tuukka Rask, but then their bill came due at the end of the second period after a fruitless power play possession. The Bruins lost track of Sean Monahan coming out of the penalty box, and he was in all alone on a breakaway in the final seconds where he flipped one past a flopping Tuukka Rask trying to make a double-pad stack save. It left things tied 1-1 after 40 minutes of play and gave the Bruins their just desserts for not playing well at all in the middle 20 minutes.

TURNING POINT: The Bruins were closely clinging to a 2-1 lead for nearly all of the third period, and didn’t get their breathing room until Kevan Miller went with a rink-length empty net bid in the final minute of the third period. Once Miller put the finishing touches on the empty net score, the Bruins were in victory mode, going 2-0 on their trip to China in a pair of exhibition games against the Flames. Now, the Bruins get to spend the next day coming back to Boston and will get a couple more additional days off through the weekend to rest before going full bore with their entire team next week.

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HONORABLE MENTION: Another young player impressing in the early going is Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, the rookie center vying for the third-line center position. JFK played a strong two-way game and looked good in a top-six role in both games in China and made a really strong play to set up Jake DeBrusk’s game-winner. JFK moved aggressively on the forecheck, took the puck away from Calgary goaltender Mike Smith, and then fed a quick pass to DeBrusk cutting to the front for a wide-open bid at the doorstep. DeBrusk cashed in on the game-winner and JFK finished with three assists in the two games against Calgary overseas. Both JFK and Trent Frederic have looked good in a competition for third-line center.

BY THE NUMBERS: 4-0-0 – the Bruins record in the preseason thus far as they’ve outscored their opponents by a 12-7 margin. They may never lose in the preseason again.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's grown as a player...lots of pace to his game, finish in tight. He showed a lot of that the second half of last year. Good growth." –Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy to reporters in China talking about the progress of Jake DeBrusk after his two-goal game.

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