Morgan Geekie scored his first NHL hat trick Thursday night in the Boston Bruins' 5-4 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at TD Garden.
Morgan Geekie scored his first NHL hat trick Thursday night in the Boston Bruins' 5-4 win over the Vegas Golden Knights at TD Garden.
Morgan Geekie didn’t set any specific expectations this summer, he just wanted to be a Boston Bruin.
The 25-year-old forward signed a two-year, $2 million contract with the B’s in July, and since then has racked up a career-best 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) – including his first NHL hat trick Thursday night in the Bruins’ 5-4 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.
“I just wanted to be part of something, the culture they have and what they were building for the year later. Everything else is icing on the cake. I’m just happy to be a Bruin,” Geekie said Thursday.
Geekie, who played the previous two seasons with the Seattle Kraken, quickly became a versatile depth piece that Boston coach Jim Montgomery could utilize up and down the lineup. Whether it’s getting a shot at a top-six center role, or shifting to the wing in the bottom six, Geekie has worked to be an impact player.
“I think I’ve grown a lot as a player. A little more opportunity, I think, and then just being able to execute,” he said. “I think I’ve always had the ability to make plays and things like that, so just being given the opportunity to use those skills.”
The Strathclair, Manitoba native skated on the third line with Danton Heinen and Trent Frederic in Thursday’s win at TD Garden and was productive from puck drop. In 4:38 of total ice time in the opening frame, Geekie potted two goals.
His first of the night came off a stretch pass from Frederic which he picked up by the offensive blue line and proceeded to rip past Vegas goaltender Adin Hill for the 1-0 lead at 14:34. A one-timer from the left circle made it 3-0 at 16:54 and earned Geekie his 29th point of the year, marking a new career best. Geekie secured the hat trick at 16:32 of the second period with a tip-in tally to put Boston up 4-2.
“I don’t know if I ever dreamed about it, but it’s something I’ll never forget for sure. It’s one of those things that you always hope will happen, and not something you ever put weight on,” Geekie said.
The Bruins showcased their depth scoring Thursday with four goals coming from the bottom six – Geekie’s three and Jesper Boqvist’s wrister from the slot at 15:04 of the first – as well as the game-winner from rookie defenseman Mason Lohrei who was recently called up from AHL Providence.
While Boston’s top scorers – David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle – have done their part to carry the team this season, it’s the contributions from players like Geekie that have rounded out the forward group.
“When you can chip in, and lead the charge for some games in the bottom six, that’s just something that I think good teams are built like that,” Geekie said.
The Bruins are still working their way out of their post-All-Star-break slump, and Thursday’s regulation win was a good start. Geekie emphasized the need to just keep building in this second-half stretch, and he’s grateful to be a part of it all.
“Old guys, new guys, we’re all one big group and we all kind of hang out together,” Geekie said. “There’s just a camaraderie amongst everyone that you don’t get everywhere else. It’s definitely all I could ask for and more.”
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