Boston — With 1 minute, 34 seconds remaining and the Bruins trailing the Flyers by one goal after a timeout, Bruins coach Jim Montgomery sent Johnny Beecher out onto the ice to take a faceoff in the Boston end.
It was Beecher’s second NHL game since mid-January, and he is still technically on an emergency basis. But, in a situation when the Bruins needed either a faceoff win or someone defensively responsible if they lost the faceoff, Montgomery singled out Beecher.He won the faceoff, his fifth win in eight draws. Boston had a couple more nervous moments, but managed to win the game 6-5. Beecher worked 19 shifts totaling 14:59 of ice time. That was more shifts and minutes than his teammates fourth-liners or anyone who started the game on the third line. He played six of those shifts in the third period, totaling 5:07. Beecher scored his sixth goal of the season early in the third period as well.
While Beecher was obviously happy to have scored, earning the trust to be on the ice with the game on the line was more important.
“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 was quoted as saying. “Goals are always exciting when they arrive. But I take great satisfaction in my 200-foot game and being dependable for the coaching staff and my teammates. It’s big. It is the reason I am where I am now. The goal was fantastic, but I enjoy being pushed in challenging circumstances.
“I’m not losing sleep at night that I’m not scoring 60 with (David Pastrnak),” he was quoted as saying. “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 by Beecher’s swift reacclimation.
“You need to find your path a little. I still feel like I’m figuring things out, despite the fact that I’ve been playing for 12 years. “You’re never done learning and growing,” Coyle explained. “We assist those guys and recall 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,” he said. “He’s a guy that is so important to our team because of what he accomplishes and offers, such as his faceoff ability, defensive play, and speed. He’s a big guy who can skate the puck and make plays.”
