Beecher looking on bright side
WASHINGTON — Johnny Beecher gave himself an hour or two to be ticked off. Then he went back to work.
It was the middle of January when the Bruins sent him to Providence to polish some areas of his game that had slipped a bit. After making the varsity following a strong camp, it wasn’t the call he expected but sometimes the rookie wall can hit hard.
Beecher decided it was better to move forward than to look back.
“It was kind of just one of those things where you just realize it’s not personal and move on from it. It’s part of the business at the end of the day and you’ve just got to kind of use it as fuel, if anything, to kind of motivate you a little bit more,” Beecher said following Monday’s morning skate at Capital One Arena ahead of the Bruins’ 2-0 loss to the Capitals. “And I am super close with the guys down there, so it really wasn’t the end of the world. Go down and play hockey with some of your best buddies still. So, I mean the situation can be much worse at the end of the day.”
His time with the Baby Bs lasted just shy of two months as he put up four goals and 8 points before getting summoned back to Boston.
“I was able to go down there and build up some more confidence, play a little bit bigger of a role, get in a little bit better shape, just by playing more minutes,” said Beecher. “And I got a ton of good buddies and really close with the coaching staff down there. So, a lot of positives came out from it. I worked real hard and I was able to get the call back up and I’ve been chipping away right now, just still trying to learn and get better. There’s so many highs and lows throughout an 82-game season, especially as a rookie, and just kind of taking them as they come and go right now and trying to get as prepared as I can for the playoffs.”
Against the Capitals, Beecher played right wing on the fourth line with Jesper Boqvist at center and Pat Maroon on the left and finished with two shots and two hits in 11:53 on ice. Having Boqvist and Beecher on the same line gives the Bruins two guys who can handle faceoffs.
Beecher has played with a heavier presence in his second stint with the big club, and that is something that should pay dividends when in the playoffs.
“This is a big reason why I’m here; to play this style of hockey, play north-south, play physical. I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “The guys have given me some advice. You can even see it in the last 5-10 games, just how much the league has changed, and people are fighting for their lives now. I’m excited for Game 1. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of jitters, but it’s always a good thing. So, I’m excited.”
Playing with Maroon also has Beecher pumped, as he is anxious to learn from a veteran who has been through the postseason wars.
“He’s an unbelievable guy. He’s everything you wished he would be and more,” said Beecher. “He’s fit in great with the guys and I’m excited to play with him. He’s an unbelievable player and hopefully we mesh pretty well out there.”
Searching for a spark
Jim Montgomery overhauled his powerplay units during the morning skate as he continues to search for a spark to ignite the slumping attack.
On his top unit the coach went with David Pastrnak and Danton Heinen on the elbows with Pavel Zacha in the bumper spot, Maroon at the net front, and Kevin Shattenkirk quarterbacking.
On the second unit, Charlie McAvoy was at the point with Charlie Coyle in the middle, Jake DeBrusk at the front, and Brad Marchand and Morgan Geekie on the flanks.
“We need more pace and purpose to our power play and we’re not getting the urgency that we think we need as we build toward the playoffs and hoping this will help,” said Montgomery before the game.
The Bruins never got a chance to unveil their attack, however, as they were held without a power play for the first time all season.
“Maybe we could have had one or two, but that’s a stretch,” said the coach.
Carlo exits early
Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo, who retreated to the dressing room after blocking a shot late, looked no worse for the wear after the game . . . Parker Wotherspoon was back in on the blue line in place of Matt Grzelcyk ... James van Riemsdyk was the extra forward
. . . Washington defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk, James’s brother, played in his 600th game . . . Morning skate was slightly delayed as the COA bull gang was tardy drilling the post holes. Montgomery was not pleased with the staffers’ lack of hustle/urgency on the matter . . . Banner check: The Capitals have retired four numbers: Rod Langway (No. 5), Yvon Labre (No. 7), Mike Gartner (No. 11), and (ducks) Dale Hunter (No. 32) . . . Song of the night: “The Party,” by Firebeatz.