Johnny Beecher’s positive presence in the Bruins’ bottom six was a welcome surprise in the second half of the season.
Boston’s forward depth looked lacking on paper heading into the year, and could have looked even grimmer once budding rookie Matt Poitras was sent to long-term injured reserve and eventually shut down for the season.
As part of the lineup shuffle surrounding Poitras’s injury, Beecher found a more permanent role in the NHL. He wound up playing 52 regular season games in Boston and recorded 10 points.
Now, Beecher’s efforts through the regular season are paying dividends in the race for the Stanley Cup.