Bruins rookies shine in season opener against the Blackhawks
On Wednesday night, Bruins fans got a preview of the future. Against the Blackhawks, Matthew Poitras and Johhny Beecher made their NHL debuts. While the season opener featured unforgettable moments, such as Connor Bedard’s first NHL goal and multiple Bruins legends being honored for the opening of the franchise’s centennial season, the play of Poitras and Beecher stood out. As the Bruins emerged with a victory, their rookie centers played key roles.
After a stellar preseason, Poitras picked up where he left off with his first NHL assist on Trent Frederic’s goal. His impact didn’t stop there as the 19-year-old landed two shots on net while making smart decisions with the puck. Poitras hardly looked like a rookie in 14:50 minutes of total ice time.
While Poitras shined offensively, Beecher showed that he would not back down from a challenge. The former first-round pick got in his first NHL fight and was effective in the faceoff circle. Beecher won 54.5 percent of his faceoffs as the Bruins fourth line was arguably their best trio for most of the game.
Although the season is far from over, the play of the rookie duo was hard to ignore. They did not seem overwhelmed by the raised expectations, and Beecher’s physicality stood out to Milan Lucic, who has dished out a few big hits of his own in his career.
“He did well. He could use a little work,” Lucic told reporters of the fight, per The Boston Globe’s Conor Ryan. “So, I could give him a few pointers. Good to see him stand up for himself there.”
Beecher and Poitras will look to continue their impressive starts on Saturday when the Bruins take on the Nashville Predators.
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