Getting Over The Hump: Jakub Lauko ‘Trying To Build On’ First Goal For Bruins This Season
The 23-year-old Boston Bruins forward scored his first goal of 2023-24 in his 32nd game. Lauko shared the reaction he received from his teammates, and where his game is heading mentally after practice on Friday.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports - Getting Over The Hump: Jakub Lauko ‘Trying To Build On’ First Goal For Bruins This SeasonBRIGHTON, Mass. – Jakub Lauko plays a unique role in the Boston Bruins' bottom six. The 23-year-old forward is one of the few true physical presences on the team. A heavy-hitting winger who can electrify both the team and TD Garden crowd with fights, Lauko is not relied on to be a high scorer.
Still, when he netted his first goal of the 2023-24 season in his 32nd game on Thursday, a 5-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche, it was a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.
“I really didn’t have much going on this season, so it wasn’t easy sometimes,” Lauko said on Friday. “It was kind of hard, and [I was] just trying to stay positive as much as I could. But yeah, next game tomorrow [against the Montreal Canadiens], and I’ll try to build on it.”
Lauko gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead at 4:58 of the first period against Colorado on Thursday. Morgan Geekie drew out Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev to the side of the net, which left an open cage for Lauko to backhand the puck in to when it shot across the ice towards him.
The Czech forward was greeted with a warm reception – and some chirping – upon his return to the bench after finally lifting the monkey off his back.
“I even joked about it; couldn’t miss that backhander,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said on Friday.
Lauko added that Bruins captain Brad Marchand had fun with it as well, but he was quick with a rebuttal.
“We expect that from him. I [started] calling him ‘Bradley’ after that, so he kind of shut up after that,” Lauko said, chuckling.
Joking aside, Montgomery expressed how important Lauko is to the team. He has four points on the season, but is second on the team with 62 hits behind only Trent Frederic (75). And his impact goes beyond the stat sheet as well.
“He’s a real likable teammate, just because of the energy and kind of goofy smile he carries around about himself,” Montgomery said. “He brings positive energy to the group that way, and I think everyone was really happy for him.”
A notable aspect about Lauko’s performance on Thursday was the fact that he was elevated from his usual fourth line spot to play on the third line with Frederic and Geekie.
His usual linemates – Johnny Beecher and Oskar Steen – have just 92 NHL games under their belt while Frederic and Geekie have 460 combined. Lauko believes that increased experience makes a huge difference since Frederic and Geekie have a better feel for the game, which makes it easier for Beecher, Steen and him to improve their own games.
Between the gnarly eye injury he suffered from taking a skate blade to the face on Oct. 24 and his overall scoring woes, the 2023-24 season has not been one to write home about for Lauko. The physical aspect of his game has been in the right place, and by finally getting a goal on the board, his mental game can get there, too.
“The coaching staff and other guys on the team will want me to continue playing the same way I'm playing, like being hard,” Lauko said. “It’s just kind of like a confidence booster because, yeah, it’s nice when I don’t see the ‘zero’ there [in the goal column], so I’ll keep going from it and keep building up on the last game.”
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