BRAMPTON, Fla. — He let the hockey world know that he arrived after being thrust into the spotlight against the Ottawa Senators last spring, and followed that up with a strong regular season worthy of Calder Trophy consideration. But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Charlie McAvoy as of late.

From missing in time in late January-early February for a heart procedure or missing a month’s time with a sprained MCL late in the regular season, the talented McAvoy had a few roadblocks to clear on the injury front. He returned in time for the last four games of the regular season and appeared ready to go for the Bruins’ first-round series with the Maple Leafs.

Clearly, though, McAvoy struggled to regain his consistency against the young Leafs. His outlet passes weren’t as crisp; his puck handling not as strong, and his defensive play took a hit through the first six games against the Bruins’ Original Six rivals.

Again, McAvoy was being put into the fire as he fought off rust and ineffectiveness after coming back from that sprained MCL.

His last two playoff appearances, however, were a different story. The former Boston University Terrier looked and felt more comfortable in his decision making — both with and without the puck — and fluid skating in all three zones.

Saturday’s Game 1 outing against the Tampa Bay Lightning was particularly satisfying for McAvoy, who tallied two assists and was a plus-two in 22:29 of ice time — most of which came against the Bolts top trio of J.T. Miller, Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. Not bad for an afternoon’s worth of work.

“I felt good,” McAvoy, who is still wearing a brace on his knee, said following Sunday’s practice at Ice Sports Forum, home of the Lightning’s practice facility. “I felt confident, I felt normal…it’s been a lot coming back and a little bit of adjustments [both on and off the ice], but medically I feel good and I’m making good progress, and I’m getting down to just the brace now and shedding some tape now and stuff. But I’m feeling more comfortable and it was just an awesome game [Saturday],”

Indeed, Saturday was quite an awesome game for the Bruins — even though the 6-2 final wasn’t an indication of how close things were — in one of their better performances through the first few weeks of the postseason. The Lightning had a distinct attacking time and puck possession advantage and outshot the Black and Gold 36-24. But an emotional Tuukka Rask was up to the task and a stingy Bruins D that blocked 21 shots kept the Bolts’ potent-attack at bay.

Certainly, the Bruins could clean up a little bit in their own end. Easier said than done against the likes of Stamkos, Kucherov, Miller and Victor Hedman (to name a few). But Game 1 showed that McAvoy and the D have a blueprint for what they want to accomplish.

“We’re going to try to get in lanes all series,” said McAvoy, who led all Bruins with five hits Saturday.

“They’re a very good team offensively, and they have a lot of depth, and they’re going to get opportunities — it’s going to happen. Like the [Auston] Matthews line and like the [skilled] guys in Toronto, they’re great and NHL caliber players. We’re going to have to make sure that those opportunities are limited; try to keep them to the outside and try to make sure that there not point-blank chances [and] get in lanes as much as we can…”

For sure, McAvoy is a catalyst for that defensive strategy. If Game 1 is any indication, then indeed, the confident McAvoy will only help that cause.

“Yeah, he was very good,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said about McAvoy’s Game 1 outing. “We liked his game, he was moving better a little more effortlessly around the ice [and] more involved offensively. And that’s more his game.”

McAvoy’s composure and skillset, indeed, makes him quite the gamer.