Why Jake DeBrusk Will Have Head On Swivel In His First Game Vs. Bruins

Tuesday night will be an emotional one for Jake DeBrusk when he takes the ice at TD Garden for the first time since leaving the Bruins.

DeBrusk spent seven solid seasons in Boston before ultimately signing with the Vancouver Canucks in free agency this past summer. Tuesday night marks his first trip to Boston with a new club, and he knows he’ll have to be on the lookout for any teammates who seek retribution.

Kidding, of course. Kind of.

“Honestly, there’s probably a couple of guys who will take some punishment out on me for all the times I was so annoying for them, I guess,” DeBrusk said with a smile Monday when meeting with the media at Canucks practice.

“You never know. It’s not something I’m thinking of, but it will be funny to hear a couple of guys chirp me. It’s definitely a weird situation for myself, but in saying that, I get it, they’re doing everything they can to win, and so are we.”

Obviously, the good outweighs any sort of negative for DeBrusk on his return to Boston. The schedule worked out well for the 28-year-old. Vancouver has been off since Saturday night in Ottawa. That allowed DeBrusk to meet up with former Bruins teammates on Sunday night, and he planned to do so again Monday night.

As for DeBrusk’s first season in Vancouver, it has been a mixed bag. DeBrusk has five goals and eight assists in 19 games for Vancouver. He is, however, coming off the best game of his season Saturday night. The winger scored twice and added an assist in a 4-3 win over Linus Ullmark-led Ottawa Senators.

DeBrusk hopes for another strong showing in his next reunion Tuesday night at the Garden.

“I hope so, not gonna lie to you,” DeBrusk said Monday when asked if he had another multi-point game in him for the Bruins. “The bunches have kind of come and gone. I’ve had more success on the road than at home. … Hopefully, it keeps going in a winning cause.”

NESN’s coverage of Bruins-Canucks from TD Garden begins Tuesday night at 6 p.m. ET.