Flavin Media

John Beecher on the 4th line's chemistry ahead of tonight's game:

"Our whole line's been playing really well… hopefully we can keep it going."#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/LNCCDPsTr6

— NESN (@NESN) October 17, 2024

Through five games, Johnny Beecher and his linemates have been the main feature of the Bruins’ offense. You wonder why a fourth line has such impact…

The impact comes because this fourth line of Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, and Cole Koepke is playing to the team’s strengths. As the heaviest team in the league and seemingly stout defensively, this line is using whatever agility they have to play simple puck-in-deep, along-the-boards hockey.

There’s no doubt this line will come back to earth eventually, but the big scenario early on is that this line could be putting things on film for the rest of the team—and for themselves, when they struggle—to show how this team could be playing winning playoff hockey. If this line keeps looking good, a more emphasized pucks-on-net mentality from Jim Montgomery could make things even better.

You might think it’s lazy to say, basically, “SHOOT THE PUCK!” like many fans in the nosebleeds, but that’s exactly what the film shows for this team. This batch is a heavier and slower unit, so putting more pucks on net—however you can—will give precious seconds, or even potentially a minute, for your forwards to regroup and, crucially, force the opponent to execute yet another breakout.

Let’s see if this sample provided by the fourth line sets a precedent…