Johnny Beecher Using Recent Scratch as ‘Learning Curve’

In a 1-on-1 conversation with The Hockey News, Johnny Beecher discusses his fourth line role and areas of growth after sitting out of Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

BRIGHTON, Mass. – For the first time this season, Johnny Beecher watched the Boston Bruins from above.

The fourth-line center was a healthy scratch for Saturday’s 4-3 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, replaced with Oskar Steen, who has been earning his NHL keep since he was called up from AHL Providence in late October.

“They just wanted me to be up top and watch a game and see what it takes to be competitive and be one of those guys that when you’re on the ice, the other team isn’t looking forward to it,” Beecher told The Hockey News Tuesday after an optional morning skate.

Beecher – who adjusted his game to fit the bottom-six, grinding role early in the season – was given a chance to respond the following night, Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets at TD Garden.

“Coming from being taken out of the lineup, you want to go out there and put your best effort forward. Especially because the rest of the team was pretty tired from playing the night before – want to bring a little bit extra jump,” Beecher said.

“[Montgomery] just wants me to be harder to play against. The last four, five games just haven’t really been playing to the standards they have for me and that I have for myself. I was aware of that.”

Leading up to the healthy scratch, Beecher had potted three goals in six games while skating an average 10:41 a night. However, as evident in the Bruins’ late-November slump, it was the team’s play away from the puck that bore responsibility for the softer, disjointed look.

“Sometimes you need to take a breath and also it’s a little bit of a jolt of how good he was playing, to come back and give us that energy as the fourth line center with valuable minutes. He’s a good hockey player for us,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said Sunday.

Beecher slotted back into his fourth line pivot position in Sunday’s 3-1 win and skated with regular left wing Jakub Lauko and new addition Morgan Geekie, who swung over to the right after playing center when Steen was in.

“He has a ton of skill and he plays the right way. He’s a tremendous hockey player and a great guy. Still trying to build a bit of chemistry out there, but I’m sure it’ll start to click,” Beecher said of Geekie.

Beecher’s return to the lineup wasn’t a headline performance, but it wasn’t a step back either. The University of Michigan product was on the ice for zero goals against and lent equal effort to ending opponent plays early and pushing offense up ice.

“I thought he did a good job. I thought his line brought energy,” Montgomery said Tuesday. “They spent a lot of time in the offensive zone which is always a good sign when one of your bottom two lines can spend O-zone time and extend and wear out the other team’s top players.”

It’s the expected rookie growing pains – from the packed schedule, travel, heightened expectations and need for consistency – but Beecher said he’s determined to grow from the experience.

“Part of the business, and kind of use it as a learning curve here and try to move forward.”