Beecher’s beauty

About three days before Boston’s overtime win over Toronto, people were still talking about Beecher’s sensational back-the-back duel against Kastelic on Tuesday, which gave the Bruins a 3-2 lead in the second half.

“It was funny, I went back to the bench – there’s a video of (Matt Poitras) talking to me (from the NESN broadcast),” Beecher said. “I just told him it was mostly luck on my side. It was funny. It’s always nice to get on the scoresheet and contribute in that way.”

Beecher admitted that his pass was more the result of emotion and anticipation than a concerted attempt to hit Kastelic directly on the tape.

“I didn’t see him,” Beecher said. “He had controlled the network. I had a pretty good idea he had been there. The chemistry between us was pretty good in the first nine games. I trusted him to do his job, get to the net and keep his stick down. Good things happen when you play right.

“I would be lying if I said there wasn’t a bit of luck involved. I’m glad it worked. It was nice for us to get that lead…big win for us as we were playing at home against a big rival. Captivated the audience and kind of set the tone for the future.”

The fact that the final score of the game was a go-ahead was a testament to the chemistry that the trio of Beecher, Kastelic and Cole Koepke have developed over the first nine games of the season.

“We’re all just working together and on the same page,” Kastelic said. “I think we all have good skills and see that we are all in the right places and not cheating the game. I think we all work incredibly hard every shift. We try not to release shifts. I think that’s a big reason we’re getting early production.”

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery echoed Kastelic’s sentiments while also addressing the development and maturation of Beecher’s game in the forward’s second season.

“A few thoughts come to mind about how this variation and Johnny Beecher himself boosted their confidence to even think about trying this game,” Montgomery said. “I think of Johnny Beecher himself, who we think uses high percentage plays. I know this doesn’t seem like a high percentage game, but when you know that a teammate is sitting at the back post and playing like that through the slot, the bottom slot, they’re going in at such a high level even if If there is a defender, it can hit its skate and go in.

“As a young man, he is really maturing and developing the intensity and focus and preparation needed that will allow him to have the success we are seeing this year.”