What a moment! Billerica’s own Marc McLaughlin scores his first goal in NHL debut with the Bruins

BOSTON — A local kid’s dream come true played out at the TD Garden on Thursday night.

Billerica’s Marc McLaughlin, fresh off his season with Boston College and the Olympics, made his NHL debut and scored his first goal with cheering family and friends watching it all from the stands.

McLaughlin’s first goal came in an 8-1 blowout of the Devils. Take a look at how it played out below.

“I feel like I’ve lived that moment in my basement a million times,” the undrafted BC captain said after scoring during a six-goal second-period outburst that propelled the Bruins to an 8-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. “It’s definitely surreal.”

The native of Billerica, who had 31 points in 33 games at BC this season and also played for the United States in the Beijing Olympics, McLaughlin signed with the Bruins when the Eagles’ season ended and took a spot on the third line because of an illness to Craig Smith.

He joined in on a two-on-one breakaway, going to his knee to make sure the perfect pass from Trent Frederic was redirected into the net. He coasted backward into the boards with both hands raised in the air as the fans — including an estimated 50 friends and family — got back on their feet for the seventh time.

“Did you see the bench? That tells you a little bit,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I think everybody on the bench was excited for him, to get your first goal, in front of your family.”

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