Canucks’ Jake DeBrusk the difference-maker in shootout win: ‘Feels awesome’

VANCOUVER — All he wanted to do when he came to the Vancouver Canucks was win because, really, that’s all Jake DeBrusk had done in his first seven National Hockey League seasons with the Boston Bruins. Mostly, all he has done since he got here is lose. 

So when DeBrusk, after his lowest ice time this season, was able to flip a forehand under the crossbar in the shootout to give the Canucks a stunning 4-3 win Thursday against the Nashville Predators, the 29-year-old winger was able to enjoy a rare moment of satisfaction knowing that he had actually helped his team win.

“Yeah, it feels rare,” he smiled. “I’ve had a couple chances in the shootouts with that move; I’ve hit, like, three posts or three cross bars, something like that. So it was nice to see it actually work for once and, yeah, it feels good. Any way that I can help feels awesome.”

Signed to a seven-year free-agent contract by the Canucks two summers ago largely for his 86-game playoff resume, DeBrusk was among names of veteran Vancouver players being tossed like confetti in trade conjecture ahead of last Friday’s NHL deals deadline.

He told PostMedia last week that he was “not built for rebuilds,” a remark reflecting frustration that DeBrusk quickly walked back the next day.

But the agony of this season on the Canucks’ handful of senior players has been obvious. Instead of playing for a Stanley Cup, they’re expected to lead the academy of prospects the organization is amassing for its rebuild.

“It is what it is, you know,” DeBrusk said. “Mentally, I mean, it’s not easy for anybody. Nights like tonight, we can celebrate a little win. Obviously, it hasn’t been as many times as we’re all used to. But yeah, mentally, it’s been the hardest year of my career. This year, it seems like it’s just not (my year). I think I’ve talked enough about it, but it really does hit home. At the same time, you’ve still got a job to do.

“You’re playing in the best league in the world. Doesn’t matter if you get five minutes, 15 minutes or 20, if we win a game — as I’ve said since I’ve been here — I don’t care.”

Thursday’s win was just the seventh in 32 home games for the Canucks. Let that sink in a minute.

DeBrusk, who scored 28 goals last season, has just 14 in 64 games this season, only three of them at even strength. The Edmontonian has played one less game than the Canucks because coach Adam Foote healthy-scratched him Dec. 29 in Seattle.

DeBrusk has one goal in his last 13 games, two in his last 22. Playing on the fourth line Thursday, he saw just 9:53 of ice time in regulation and made a coverage mistake on the first Nashville goal as the Predators built a 3-1 lead.

But after Marco Rossi scored on a rebound for Vancouver with 4:05 remaining in the third period, and Filip Hronek tied it 3-3 with a top-corner bullet at six-on-five with a minute to go, Foote gave DeBrusk two shifts in overtime. Then he sent out the veteran to score the only goal of the shootout against Juuse Saros.

“You’ve just got to be a good pro and just be yourself,” DeBrusk said. “You’re human and you can show that, too. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with being disappointed in your play, and if you’re not doing well, try to respond. I’ve already been a healthy scratch. The response maybe hasn’t been what I wanted or what we’ve wanted as a team. But what am I going to do? (Former Boston captain) Patrice Bergeron used to say ‘every shift is a gift.’ Dude, I’m lucky to be out there.”

Besides Hronek and DeBrusk, another of the veteran leaders remaining in Vancouver, Brock Boeser, scored the Canucks’ first goal.

All of the younger players are watching them.

“You can’t imagine what they’re going through personally,” rookie defenceman Zeev Buium, one of 12 skaters Foote used in overtime, said of the Canuck elders. “Their expectation was probably to go to the playoffs and try to make a push and, obviously, things changed a lot for them. I mean, they were in Game 7 (of the second round) two years ago, right? You probably think you’re contending for a Cup this year. A lot has changed. 

“But I just think those guys have been great. I mean, Fil, J.D. (DeBrusk), all of them, I mean, they’re there for us. I think they’re trying to set a culture here that, you know, needs to be in place for now and forever, and I think they’re doing a great job of it. Things haven’t been easy, but to get wins like this, they mean a lot to us.”

A declining Nashville team loaded with veterans lost to a young Vancouver team that is hopelessly at the bottom of the overall standings. 

Obviously, the Canucks don’t want to be there beyond this season. A comeback win like Thursday against a Predators team still desperately trying to make the playoffs helps fuel hope.

“This starts with the guys getting together, caring about each other and doing it for the guy next to you,” Buium said. “After the last couple of weeks, just with everything going on, after the deadline everything kind of calmed down and we were able to focus on each other. I think that kind of showed out there tonight. You could tell that we weren’t going to give up on each other. It was pretty cool to see the place explode when Fil scored.”

If Buium had only seen it two years ago.