Bruins’ Johnny Beecher’s playoff debut a moment he’ll never forget
On Saturday night, Johnny Beecher etched himself into Bruins lore forever when he scored his first-career NHL goal during his first playoff shift.
“I blacked out a little bit,” Beecher said to reporters after the Bruins’ 5-1 win over the Maple Leafs in Game 1 at TD Garden. “I was just kind of in the corner at the glass and I was just kind of screaming, and the boys were all jumping on me. It’s one I’ll never forget. I was just happy to get the boys going there and get a little momentum in the first period.”
Beecher’s goal also came on the first shot of the game after Pat Maroon made his presence felt on the ice, tying up two Maple Leafs in the boards. Maroon got the puck over to Jesper Boqvist to create a 2-on-1 against Toronto’s goaltender, Ilya Samsonov.
Boqvist sent a smooth cross-ice to Beecher, who beat Samsonov with a redirect to light the lamp for the Bruins.
“I don’t really know if I expected to score on the first shift there, but Patty made a great play getting out of the corner, and Boqs made a great pass,” Beecher said.
The 23-year-old got his first taste of playoff hockey in front of a rabid sellout crowd. His goal helped set the tone for the game and gave the fans something to cheer about.
“It was unbelievable. The fans are incredible out there, and it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever been a part of,” Beecher said. “Unreal to get a win in the first one. Keep building on it; go from there.”
Beecher played in 52 games for the Bruins this season, scoring seven goals with three assists. He also spent time with the Providence Bruins, playing in 17 games and scoring four goals with four assists.