Bourque scored his first NHL goal on December 30, 2008, against the Buffalo Sabres. In the 2009–10 season, he was claimed off of waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 30, 2009, and recorded his first NHL assist on October 28, 2009 in a 6–1 win over the Montreal Canadiens. On December 5, 2009, he was waived by the Penguins and re-claimed by his former team, the Washington Capitals. He was then assigned back to the Bears where he remained for the majority of the season. In helping the Bears capture their second successive Calder Cup, Bourque led the league in scoring with 27 post-season points to win the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as Calder Cup Playoff MVP in 2010.