Geekie making most of time
The appeal of playing with a proven star such as David Pastrnak was not lost on Morgan Geekie when he weighed his free agent options last summer. But more than anything, the 25year-old forward was looking for consistent reps.
Despite posting 28 points over 69 games with the Kraken last season, Geekie only averaged 10:27 of ice time. The only Bruins skaters who averaged less ice time in 2022-23 were Craig Smith (10:15), A.J. Greer (9:07), and Jakub Lauko (8:52).
Geekie’s production under limited minutes sparked interest from the Bruins, who signed him to a two-year, $4 million contract July 1. The hope was that the 6-foot-3-inch Geekie would have more to give with more responsibilities.
And with Geekie hopping over the boards more than ever, the Bruins are reaping the benefits.
One of several Swiss Army knives in coach Jim Montgomery’s forward corps, Geekie is averaging 15:19 on ice, nearly three minutes more than his career high (12:36).
He’s been on a tear since missing six games with an upper-body injury in early November — recording seven goals in 20 games after scoring his eighth of the season in Saturday night’s 7-3 win over the Lightning at TD Garden.
“I think opportunity lends itself a lot in this league — because of injuries, because of shifts in the team winning or losing, and he’s taken advantage of it,” Montgomery said. “I think he’s developing some real consistency to his game as far as how hard he is to play against at both ends of the ice.”
It should come as little surprise that Geekie’s stat line has spiked of late after getting slotted in as one of Boston’s top two centers between Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha.
He may not be the flashiest player, but Geekie’s ability to ferry the puck into Grade-A ice and shield it from opposing sticks has made life easier for potent scorers.
“Dave is a heck of a player and so is Pav. I think I’m a bigger guy and sometimes I forget about that,” Geekie said. “So I just try to go out there make some room for them and get them the pucks in good spots.”
Geekie is looking to put an eventful 2023 in the rearview mirror. A day before free agency opened, he found out via Twitter (now X) that the Kraken were not extending him a qualifying offer.
But in the wake of his unexpected cross-country move,
Geekie is finding his footing.
“I think it’s always tough, especially coming to a new team and a new system,” he said. “I feel like I’ve kind of got my feet back under me and been playing good hockey, so I’m just going to keep trying to grow as a player. We’re looking to win every night, so just whatever I can do to help that out.”
Still dangerous
The Lightning have not resembled the juggernaut most Bruins fans have come to expect from Jon Cooper’s squad. Tampa Bay is a point outside the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference at 19-17-5.
But a roster still anchored by elite talent up front in Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and
Steven Stamkos can carve up the stingiest defense — especially on the power play.
Tampa Bay entered the game cashing in on 29.9 percent of its bids on the man advantage, second in the league, but went 0 for 4 against the Bruins. Kucherov, who is tied with Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon for the league lead in scoring, has generated 30 of his 67 points on the power play.
“Can’t take penalties and you got to be aware. Every forward has got to know when he’s on the ice and you got to get pucks out,” Montgomery said of slowing down Kucherov. “You can’t give players like that — like we did last game with [Sidney] Crosby — second-chance opportunities in the O-zone.”
Lineup shuffle
Matt Poitras, returning after representing Canada at the World Junior Championship in Sweden, was in the lineup for the first time since Dec. 16. The rookie had two assists centering a line between Danton Heinen and Trent Frederic . . . Rookie defenseman Mason Lohrei did not play. He underwent dental work Saturday morning after taking a puck to the face during Tuesday’s win in Columbus.
Parker Wotherspoon skated on the third pairing with Kevin Shattenkirk . . . James van Riemsdyk did not play, with the veteran forward “day to day” with an injury, per Montgomery . . . The Bruins recalled forward
Jesper Boqvist from Providence, and he took the place of Johnny Beecher as the fourth-line center between Jakub Lauko and
Oskar Steen. In a corresponding move, Boston returned forward
Georgii Merkulov to the AHL. In his first taste of NHL action, the 23-year-old played four games — landing three shots on goal and averaging 10:34 on ice.