Boston Bruins' Jake DeBrusk (74) celebrate his goal with Oskar Steen (62) and Erik Haula (56) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Bruins call up forward from AHL on emergency basis
Johhny Beecher will get his second stint in the NHL.
The Bruins called up their former first-round draft pick on an emergency basis on Wednesday.
“I was able to get back to my game. Get in a little better shape playing more minutes,” Beecher said. “I’m excited to be back up here. I don’t know many details, but it’s exciting to be back in the room, back with the guys.”
If an NHL team can’t field six healthy defensemen and 12 healthy forwards, a player can be recalled on an emergency basis.
Beecher, who made the team out of the preseason was a regular on Boston’s fourth-line usually at center and occasionally on the wing for most of the beginning of the season, but was supplanted in that role by Jesper Boqvist, who has played well since being called up.
With James van Riemsdyk absent, Beecher practiced with the Bruins on Wednesday. Boston is at Montreal on Thursday Night at the Bell Centre.
The 22-year-old former Michigan Wolverine has played 39 games for the Bruins and had five goals and two assists. Beecher won 53.9 percent of his faceoffs in the NHL while playing 10:19 per game.
He hasn’t played in the NHL since Jan. 13. Beecher, a 6-foot-3, 216-pound forward had four goals and four assists for the Providence Bruins in 17 games since being sent to the AHL.
“What we heard is he kept getting better and better. Showing that he’s fighting for a spot to get back up here,” Montgomery said.
