Bruins fourth line shattering expectations
Through the Bruins first six games, they have gotten off to an uneven start. While they are still searching for consistency, one group that has stood out is the fourth line. The trio of Cole Koepke, Mark Kastelic, and Johnny Beecher have been a scoring machine and provided a spark early on.
So far this season, Kastelic, Koepke, and Beecher have scored seven combined goals and dished out nine assists. The unit has not only been tough to score on but is putting points on the board faster than anyone predicted. Their impact has not gone unnoticed by their teammates, such as Hampus Lindholm.
“That whole line’s been amazing for us. They’re the hardest worker out there, and they earn everything they get,” Hampus Lindholm told Boston.com’s Conor Ryan on Wednesday.
While the 2024-2025 campaign is less than a month old, the Bruins fourth line is already setting new career highs. Kopeke, who entered the season with five points in his first 26 NHL games, already has six points. Kastelic, who had 10 points in 63 games with the Senators last season, already has five. Even though the production will slow down, this group has shown that its impact does not solely lie in putting points on the board.
The Bruins trio has already dished out 58 hits, with Mark Kastelic leading the way with 25. That has made it hard for them to play against and keep off the ice.
“They’re earning all the ice time they’re getting, and their details, their work ethic, their puck support of one another, offensively and defensively, is allowing them to have tremendous success,” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said on Wednesday.
For the moment, the Bruins have found a fourth line that can compete with any in the league and provide an unexpected scoring punch.