BOSTON — With 1 minute, 34 seconds remaining and the Bruins’ clinging to a one-goal lead over the Flyers coming out of a timeout, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery sent Johnny Beecher out on the ice to take a faceoff in the Boston end.
It was just Beecher’s second game in the NHL since mid-January and he’s still technically in the NHL on an emergency basis. But in a spot where the Bruins needed either a faceoff win or someone defensively responsible if they lost the faceoff, Montgomery tabbed Beecher.
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He won the faceoff, his fifth win on eight draws. Boston had a few more anxious moments, but held on to win the game, 6-5. Beecher played 19 shifts for 14:59 of ice time. That was more shifts and more time than his fellow fourth-liners or anyone who started the game on the third line. He played six of those shifts in the third period for 5:07. Beecher added his sixth goal of the season early in the third period as well.
While Beecher was clearly pleased to have scored, earning the trust to be on the ice with the game on the line meant more.
“I’m trying to play my game and do what I have to do to stay in this lineup and stay in the NHL,” he said. “Goals are always awesome when they come. But I take a lot of pride in my 200-foot game and being reliable for the coaching staff and my teammates. It’s huge. It’s the reason I’m where I am right now. The goal was awesome, but I love being put out there in key situations.
“I’m not losing sleep at night that I’m not scoring 60 with (David Pastrnak),” he said. “I just have to keep sticking to my game and doing what I can to make sure I don’t get sent back down hopefully.”
Charlie Coyle was impressed at how quickly Beecher reacclimated himself.
“You have to find your way a little bit. I feel like I’m still finding my way a little bit and it’s my 12th year playing. You’re never done learning and growing,” Coyle said. “We help those guys and remember what it was like when we were rookies.
“It can be tough for a guy like that who is here and then sent back down for a few,” Coyle added. “He’s a guy who is so crucial to our team with what he does and the things that he brings: his faceoff ability and how he plays defensively; his speed. He’s a big guy who can skate with the puck and make plays.”
