BOSTON It was the biggest goal of his life, but Bruins forward Jake DeBrusk didnt get to celebrate. Just before scoring the game-winning goal of a in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round on Wednesday, DeBrusk was knocked off his skates by defenseman Jake Gardiner. DeBrusk was down on the ice when the horn sounded and the TD Garden crowd went wild. He was on his knees when Boston defenseman Matt Grzelcyk and then center David Krejci sandwiched him in a bear hug. It was still a memory that will last a lifetime. MORE: Jake Gardiner, Leafs grapple with guilt of another blown Game 7 I think my celebration kind of said it itself. I was on my knees and I just couldnt believe it went in, the rookie left wing said. It was a pretty special moment. I like to celly pretty hard and wouldve cellied pretty hard if I was on my feet, thats for sure. But at the same time, it didnt really matter. It was just nice at that time of the game to get that kind of goal. It was something that Ill never forget, especially being in my first Game 7. The Bruins advanced to face theLightning in the second round in large part because DeBrusk did a lot of celebrating in his first Stanley Cup playoff series. He had five goals, including two in Game 7, and two a sists in the series. The 21-year-old certainly didnt look like hed never been in the NHL playoffs before. And he had his legs the whole series, Bruins coach Bruce Ca sidy said. The i sue we had with Jake through the year was that consistent push, use your legs, use your feet, because hes young and hes got them and he can really get on pucks and make people uncomfortable. So I was happy for him. Hes a good kid, hes worked hard, hes really contributing for us. One of five rookies in the Bruins lineup for Game 7, DeBrusk is part of the youth movement that started when general manager Don Sweeney replaced Peter Chiarelli after the 2014-15 season. As the Bruins got younger, they got more succe sful and ended a two-year playoff drought by making the postseason last year. After losing in the first round to the Senators, the Bruins went even younger with their lineup, sometimes dre sing as many as six rookies for games in the regular season. GOLDEN STANDARD DeBrusk didnt lead the Bruins rookies in scoring;Danton Heinen did with 47 points (16 goals, 31 a sists). DeBrusk didnt garner as much Calder Trophy attention as defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who rode the momentum of Kyle Farmer Jersey making his NHL debut in that series against the Senators to emerge as a premier puck-moving defenseman with 32 points (seven goals, 25 a sists) and a plus-20 rating. But DeBrusk established that he could be a player for the Bruins to lean on. He mi sed 11 games because of injury and was a healthy scratch just once on his way to 43 points (16 goals, 27 a sists) in 70 games. The first of the Bruins three 2015 first-round draft picks to crack the NHL, DeBrusk proved that spending the entire 2016-17 season in the American Hockey League was the right decision by Boston. Over the course of his two pro seasons, hes learned how best to use his speed and his 6-foot, 188-pound frame to score and be a menace in the attacking zone when hes not scoring. Hes continued to apply those le sons to his play in the postseason. He scored going to the net, dirty areas, Ca sidy said. He had some chances tonight he didnt score going there. So thats always the first thing. Get into the inside, play inside, be willing to get hit, fight for your space. Thats playoff hockey, its a little more difficult to get there. They werent freebies. All those goals, hes around the net. He got a shot through the other night in Toronto, but the other ones here hes been real greasy, as advertised. NHL DRAFT 2018: | Being the son of former NHL forward Louie DeBrusk obviously gave Jake a heads up on what life would be like in the NHL, and how things would be different in the playoffs. Louie DeBrusk played in 15 playoff games, scoring two goals (the same number his son scored in Game 7 alone). If Louie taught Jake the basics of NHL life, the Bruins veteran core has provided the advanced courses. In particular, the younger DeBrusk has had the pleasure of playing all season with center David Krejci, who twice in his career (2011 and 2013) has led the NHL postseason in scoring. DeBrusk creditsKrejci for helping him make a seamle s transition from the regular season to the postseason. I think just with the guys Im playing with, I think having Krech by my side the whole series has been huge, DeBrusk said. Just kind of keeping me in check at certain times I get frustrated. He always wants to make sure Im focused on the next shift. I think just the whole season, I think that as the season got on I got more confident in my game. Theres no time to not feel confident now and I just want to do anything I can to help the team. Overall the series went well for myself and went well for the team. DeBrusk got the Bruins even for the first time 4:47 into the game with a power-play tip-in. He instantly skated full speed around the net and fist pumped from one knee. Thats the type of celebration the Bruins have come to expect from DeBrusk. After the Bruins came back from their third deficit of the night and DeBrusk gave them the lead for good, they didnt get to see him dance or shimmy. But that didnt matter because instead he was leading them into the second round. Tony Oliva Jersey