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Bruins center James Hagens goes to his backhand to slip the puck past Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson for the only goal in the shootout.Matthew J. Lee\/Globe Staff<\/p>\nPlaying alongside one the NHL\u2019s upper echelon defenseman allows Brunet to play without looking over his shoulder, knowing McAvoy can keep things calm on the back end. It\u2019s not unlike 2017 when Bruce Cassidy paired McAvoy with Zdeno Chara.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a great starting point for a guy like Brunet getting into this league. We have high hopes on him,\u201d Sturm said. \u201cWe wanted to develop him the right way. I think Charlie will give us the right start for a guy like him and not just our coaches. So, I just want them to play a solid game and be there for each other and hopefully for a good start for something big.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The 6-foot-2-inch, 198-pound Brunet combines excellent size, strength, and skill. Through three days of camp and against the Capitals, Brunet has shown he can play with physicality and intelligence. He plays with his head up, is stout in front of his net, and makes crisp outlet passes.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s shown in a small sample size that he has the speed to swim at the NHL level. He played critical minutes against the Capitals, including helping to kill two penalties in overtime.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, it felt great. I mean, that\u2019s why you play a game and you want to be trusted in those moments,\u201d said Brunet, who played just under 22 minutes across 24 shifts. \u201cAnd I know it\u2019s only a preseason, but for me, it meant a lot. I mean, just to get out there and try to prove myself. So, I tried as hard as I can and I think I did a pretty good job at the end there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brunet is one of 10 defensemen competing for six \u2014 maybe seven \u2014 spots with the big club. He would have to clear waivers \u2014 a dicey prospect given his skill set \u2014 to be assigned to Providence. He has embraced to competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, it is what it is. I can\u2019t really control any of that,\u201d said Brunet. \u201cSo, my job is just to go out there and prove myself. And I think I\u2019m doing a pretty good job at that right now. And I mean, 10 Ds, six Ds, eight Ds, I think it doesn\u2019t really matter for me. I have one goal in mind and I\u2019m going to do everything I can to reach it this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bruins center James Hagens goes to his backhand to slip the puck past Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson for the only goal in the shootout.Matthew J. Lee\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n
James Hagens decided things, scoring the lone goal in the shootout, tucking one past Logan Thompson. It\u2019s the continuation of a strong start for the 19-year-old Hagens, who scored a half-dozen goals at the recent Prospects Challenge … Jake Schmaltz erased Washington\u2019s 1-0 lead off a nice dish from behind the net from Woburn\u2019s Riley Duran. Trailing, 2-1, McAvoy even things with a blue line bomb off a clean faceoff win by Matt Poitras with 1:43 left and goalie Michael DiPietro pulled, setting the stage for extra hockey. \u201cIt felt good. Just try and go out there and do my job and get possession because that\u2019s the first thing. It\u2019s the hardest part, basically,\u201d said Poitras of his win on the draw. \u201cSix on five, you don\u2019t want to be chasing the puck. So yeah, I felt good to win the draw and see the puck go in.\u201d … DiPietro played the whole game for the Bruins, making 30 stops and all three in the shootout … It was the first of four games in six days in this compacted run up to the 84-game regular season which starts Sept. 29 against the Rangers back at this barn … McAvoy, Sean Kuraly, and Mark Kastelic served as the Boston\u2019s alternate captains … Mascot love: Wally the Green Monster joined Blades during an on-ice fan contest between the second and third period … The Bruins held a moment of silence for Alex Gimenez<\/a>, who passed away suddenly last week. Gimenez had just joined the franchise in July as Director of Hockey Operations\/Collective Bargaining Agreement … Nice touch: The late Dolly Parton<\/a> was remembered with a pregame playing of her hit \u201c9 to 5,\u201d much to the delight of crowd.<\/p>\n Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @globejimmcbride<\/a>.<\/p>\n