Florida-born Peeke is at home
SUNRISE, Fla. — Andrew Peeke smoothly strode to the center circle after being given the nod to lead the player stretch following Tuesday’s morning skate at Amerant Bank Arena.
It was the latest sign of how seamless the native of Parkland, Fla. — just a short ride north up the Sawgrass Expressway — has fit in with his new Bruins teammates.
“Whether it’s inviting me out to dinner or little things like that or whatever it could be, everyone’s been super welcoming and my comfort level’s really good,” Peeke said prior to the Bruins’ 4-3 win over the Panthers.
Peeke was in the lineup for the sixth straight game since coming over from the Blue Jackets at the trade deadline’s 11th hour.
Facing the franchise he grew up cheering for had the defenseman keyed up.
“I think any time you get to play in your hometown it raises the juices a little bit,” he said. “And it’s exciting having your family and friends here. Obviously, that’s the most important part. So, it’s exciting to see.”
Peeke has a long connection with the Panthers.
“I’ve gone to games since I was six months old. I know exactly where the seats are and everything,” he said.
He counted Ed Jovanovski and Steven Weiss among his early Florida faves.
Peeke, who turned 26 on St. Patrick’s Day, cut his hockey teeth in the Junior Panthers program before he literally and figuratively got too big for the South Florida hockey scene. At 14, he moved to Connecticut to skate at the Selects Hockey Academy before moving on to Green Bay to play for the USHL’s Gamblers. He was drafted 34th overall by Columbus in 2016 and played three seasons at Notre Dame before joining the Blue Jackets.
After two seasons as a regular Blue Jackets blue liner, Peeke was in and out of the lineup this season and was happy to get a fresh start with the Bruins. In a matter of hours, he went from a team going nowhere (Columbus is poised to miss the postseason for a fourth straight season) to a club battling for playoff positioning.
“This is exciting,” Peeke said. “I haven’t had a scenario like this in my pro career yet playing at this time of the year when you’re fighting for points, fighting for obviously — for us and the Panthers fighting — for that first seed in the division and that’s really important.
“And obviously I think coming after two losses, we want to play the right way and obviously hope for that win but play that right way and build from there.”
Peeke, who has played with several defensive partners during what amounts to a playoff audition, brings a rugged style both five-on-five and during the penalty kill.
“Obviously from watching the playoffs, you see how many guys play and how many injuries there are,” said Peeke, who was paired with Parker Wotherspoon against Florida. “Obviously, you don’t ever want that to happen, but you have to get adjusted to playing with new guys and you don’t have much time to practice, so getting some of those game reps with each of these guys has been really important.”
It’s a small sample size, but coach Jim Montgomery has liked what Peeke has brought to the Bruins’ attack.
“I just loved how physical he is. I think he’s really stiff. I think his gaps are tight,” Montgomery said. “I think he gets back on pucks first, so there’s a lot to like about his game and I think there’s more growth to come as he gets more confident.”
Beecher back in play
Johnny Beecher returned to the lineup after an illness sidelined him Saturday in Philadelphia. He played on the fourth line with Jesper Boqvist and Justin Brazeau ... Winger James van Riemsdyk and defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk and Mason Lohrei satout... David Pastrnak and Jakub Lauko posted from the Miami Open tennis tournament Monday night . . . The checkout lines at the ginormous Sawgrass Mills Mall, adjacent to Amerant Bank Arena, were full of Bruins sweaters Monday afternoon . . . Sign of the night: “Are we in Italy? B/C it’s raining Pasta” . . . Song of the night: “More Human Than Human,” by White Zombie.