Making your NHL debut for your hometown team in front of more than 50 family members, friends and college teammates is special enough. Adding in a first career goal in a blowout 8-1 win is icing on the cake.
Marc McLaughlin got to do all of that Thursday night. The 22-year-old Billerica native, who signed with the Bruins two weeks ago following the conclusion of his senior season at Boston College, slotted in as third-line right wing for his first NHL game against the Devils, replacing an under-the-weather Craig Smith.
With 7:56 left in the second period and the Bruins already leading 6-1, McLaughlin got his first NHL goal. Linemate Trent Frederic blocked a shot in the defensive zone and took off the other way on a 2-on-1 with McLaughlin. As the Devils' defender closed on Frederic, McLaughlin readied himself in the slot and one-timed Frederic's pass over New Jersey goalie Jon Gillies' glove.
How emotional was the moment? McLaughlin's celebration said it all.
"It was pretty special," McLaughlin said after the game. "I feel like I’ve lived that moment as a kid a hundred million times, down in my basement or shooting pucks or something. But for it to come true here and get in a game and obviously be able to contribute with a goal, it’s really special."
NESN's cameras captured his family's reaction in one of the TD Garden boxes as well. McLaughlin said Thursday morning that he didn't know exactly how many friends and family were coming for the game, but that he thought it would be over 50.
McLaughlin, who said the puck from his first goal will go to his parents' house in Billerica, got a chance to see his family's reaction when they showed the clip on the jumbotron.
"I saw it on the jumbotron," he said. "I saw my mom jumping up and down. Yeah, it was pretty cool to see. I’m blessed with having such a supportive family, friends, my teammates were here tonight. That means a lot to me, to see them out here supporting me."
Among McLaughlin's other supporters in the crowd were a bunch of his BC teammates, some of whom were wearing his old jerseys from teams like the Cape Cod Whalers and Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.
His new Bruins teammates got a kick out of the sizable McLaughlin fan club, with Brad Marchand noting their presence during warmups and acknowledging how special it all must have been.
“Very happy. It was funny looking over in warmups and seeing the crowd that he had here," Marchand said. "Such a surreal feeling for him, I’m sure, being a local kid and getting the opportunity to play here. … It must be very special for their whole family, so we’re very happy for him. He’s such a good kid, so you always love to see that."
McLaughlin has only been with the Bruins for two weeks, but it's clear that he's been making a good impression on his teammates and coaches in practice, with Bruce Cassidy highlighting the bench's reaction to his goal.
"Did you see the bench? Tells you a bit about our team," Cassidy said. "Like this kid’s only been here a little bit, but how hard he’s worked, I think every guy on the bench was excited for him. He’s a hard-working kid. To get your first goal in front of your parents and family, it’s a nice thing to be able to do that. I think everyone’s really happy for him. He earned it. Played hard, played well."
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