Bruins Fourth Line Doing Their Job Through First Four Games Of Season

BOSTON — As the revamped Bruins look to build chemistry up and down the lineup, one forward group has shown consistency in each of the four games Boston has played this season. The fourth line has continuedly shown effort with each shift they are on the ice.

The trio of Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic and Cole Koepke have combined for 13 points and 12 shots on goal through the first four games of the season. They continue to be a catalyst for the Bruins despite Boston falling to 2-2-0 on the season after dropping a 4-3 decision to the Florida Panthers at TD Garden on Monday afternoon.

“Really happy with the bottom six, the fourth line has been very, very impressive,” Montgomery said. “They’re just doing their role. The guys in the top six aren’t doing their role, (the bottom six) are doing their role.”

Bruins captain Brad Marchand has also noticed how well the fourth line has been playing for Boston through the beginning of the season.

“They’ve been unbelievable,” Marchand said. “It’s great to see that the way they compete and bring it every night. The rest of us need to take a page out of their book and be a lot better, but they’re definitely carrying the weight right now.”

Beecher lit the lamp for the first time this season when Kastelic’s shot from the top of the faceoff circle defelcted off Beecher’s knee pad past Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to give the Bruins an early 1-0 lead in the opening frame.

“I’ll take ’em however I can get ’em,” Beecher said of the goal. “But yeah, it was a great play by Kasty, just getting the shot through and just trying to be at the right place at the right time.”

Even though the fourth line has only been playing together since training camp, the chemistry they have compares to lines that have played multiple seasons together. Beecher believes it’s the style of hockey they all play which lends to their success.

“We’re all just playing the same style,” Beecher said. “They’re both big, fast players that play north-south, and I think we’re just trying to keep it simple, play with some confidence. I think the bounces are just kind of going our way right now, but we’re going to have some nihgts where they’re not and we just got to stick to our game and keep trying to get some momentum for the guys out there.”