Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery gave his fourth-liners a specific focus for the remainder of the regular season, and so far Johnny Beecher and Co. are taking it in stride. Beecher spoke exclusively with The Hockey News to discuss it on Saturday morning.
Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery gave his fourth-liners a specific focus for the remainder of the regular season, and so far Johnny Beecher and Co. are taking it in stride. Beecher spoke exclusively with The Hockey News to discuss it on Saturday morning.
WASHINGTON – The Boston Bruins needed a response. Their ill-timed line change against the Washington Capitals allowed forward Michael Sgarbossa to get behind the defense into space and tie the game 1-1 just 1:20 into the second period at Capital One Arena on Saturday.
Less than a minute later, Bruins fourth-line forward Johnny Beecher blocked Washington defenseman John Carlson’s shot, and after the Capitals regrouped, Beecher applied pressure on Capitals forward Dylan Strome’s zone entry. Strome’s pass deflected off Beecher’s skate and out towards the neutral zone with nothing but Caps goalie Charlie Lindgren ahead. Situations like these have been on Beecher’s mind all season.
“Keep playing north-south, playing fast, playing physical,” Beecher told The Hockey News on Saturday morning, regarding what he’s focusing on leading into the postseason.
“Just things that I’ve done throughout the year, but just more consistently. Being able to manage the puck at certain times of the game, whether it’s just chipping it out of your zone or getting in deep and going on the forecheck, those little details come playoffs are massive and need to be something that’s right there in the back of your head.”
Beecher jetted towards the loose puck – implementing all the factors he discussed after morning skate – sped past Strome and skated in on Lindgren, whom he beat with a backhand to the five-hole. At 2:22, the Bruins led 2-1.
The Capitals later tied the game, eventually forcing overtime, but after a four-minute penalty kill staved off the Capitals’ attempt to win in the extra period, the Bruins earned the extra point in the shootout for a 3-2 final.
The timing of Beecher’s goal – just 62 seconds after the Capitals had tied it 1-1 – was massive for momentum. After taking a 2-1 lead, the Bruins dominated offensive zone possession until back-to-back penalties allowed Washington to take back control.
It wasn’t a perfect night, but Bruins coach Jim Montgomery recognized Beecher’s impact, along with his line mates.
“I thought the fourth line was good in moments,” Montgomery said. “They got hemmed in their end in moments, but … their second and third effort on pucks was very good for us. Obviously the Beecher goal was a big goal.”
Beecher’s line was under a bigger microscope than usual on Saturday. During Friday’s practice in Arlington, Virginia, Montgomery gathered the fourth-line forwards at center ice for a quick meeting. Beecher, Jesper Boqvist, Justin Brazeau and Jakub Lauko make up the rotation; while Brazeau and Lauko have gotten looks on the third line, it will be at least two of those four names likely to start Game 1 of the postseason together, with Pat Maroon in position to take a spot somewhere in the bottom six upon his recovery from back surgery.
Beecher, Lauko and Brazeau have played just 141 NHL games combined, and while Boqvist has 229 to his name, he’s just 25 years old and new to the Bruins organization. Despite the forwards’ relative lack of experience, Montgomery imposed a challenge.
“[I’m looking for] physicality, emotion, playing the right way, playing above pucks, being vocal on the bench, bringing energy to the group,” Montgomery said on Saturday morning. “Besides that, the structure of how we want to play and holding on to pucks.”
The key here was the vocal aspect. The fourth-liners have played with physicality all season, but being a ‘voice’ in the same locker room as Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy is not a natural inclination for most young players.
Beecher agreed it shouldn’t only fall on the top players to get vocal and spark energy on the bench, but he admitted it’s an intimidating task.
“Growing up, you’re playing with guys your own age and a lot of guys that you’ve known for years, and you come here and it takes definitely a little bit to get comfortable just speaking up,” Beecher told The Hockey News on Saturday. “And being a younger guy on a team like this, it can be intimidating at times. But we even talked with [Marchand] and he’s relayed the same message of just being vocal and being loud and bringing that energy, and I think it’ll definitely help the guys.”
Beecher also acknowledged how receptive the locker room is to each person on the team, which has made Montgomery’s message easier to deliver.
With just seven games left before the playoffs, Montgomery is pushing every button to get his team ready. Beecher got off to a good start with his goal on Saturday, but it appears each player’s impact from the bench will be nearly as important as what he does on the ice when it comes to the decision of who will play in Game 1.
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