Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — As the scoreless games piled up this season, the stress continued to mount for Jake DeBrusk.

The top-six forward, who signed a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with Vancouver in the offseason after spending seven years with Boston, has yet to score with his new team in nine games.

Finally, DeBrusk scored his first Saturday night against the Canucks. 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks — before the drought reached double digits — with a crucial third-period goal that helped Vancouver win a thriller on the road.

The 28-year-old ripped a wrist shot past the glove of Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood with just under 5 minutes to play in the third, giving the Canucks a 2-1 lead.

Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said that despite not scoring before Saturday, DeBrusk fit right in with his new team, getting on the top line with JT Miller and Brock Boeser on Saturday. Miller be careful to grab the puck as a souvenir for DeBrusk.

“Damn it,” said Tocchet. “I mean, that was formed. This is probably the only place he could have scored. That’s the scorer’s goal.”

DeBrusk had 19 goals for the Bruins last season, but didn’t score his first goal until nine games into last season on Nov. 2.

“Hopefully I can get a few more early next year so I know I have an automatic one on (Nov. 2),” DeBrusk joked.

But DeBrusk, who has four assists on the season, said it was hard not to focus on scoring, especially with the adjustment to being on a new team.

“I think I’m getting a little more comfortable, but at the same time — every game that goes by, you feel more and more,” DeBrusk said. “You always want to get the first one as quickly as possible. It took me a lot longer than other guys, but I’m happy to help get a win.”

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