The Bruins' fourth line played its best early in the season

With her tightest grip.

In the final moments of a close NHL game, as teams are defending narrow leads, you can usually see the fourth players tattooed on the bench. These critical minutes are usually reserved for the best skaters.

That's not the case with these guys.

Coach Jim Montgomery gave the fierce forechecking and physical fourth-liners late assignments as the Bruins secured their first road win of the season.

“I think we need to stop calling them the fourth line,” Montgomery said. “I mean, it's impressive the way they've played and the amount of ice time they're getting, and their detail, their work ethic, supporting each other with the puck on offense and defense allows them to achieve tremendous success.”

All three were plus-3 on the night, with Koepke scoring first and Beecher finishing with an empty-net goal.

Koepke, who had 1 goal and 2 points on his NHL resume when the Bruins signed him as a free agent in July, already has 2 goals and 3 assists in five games.

“He was a big surprise,” Montgomery said. “I don’t think he was a big surprise to our pro scouts who recommended him. They have said a lot about him and he rewards the scouts and us with his commitment and his style of play.”

Being able to rely on that with the game on the line was a huge confidence boost for Koepke and his teammates.

“It's a big task and a big responsibility that comes with it and that's something we don't take lightly,” Koepke said, “and being in this situation shows that we're gaining the trust of the team . “This is something we are really proud of and will continue to build on.”

Koepke scored his goal by doing what he's always done: getting to the net. Once there, he pushed Andrew Peeke's wrist ball past Colorado goalkeeper Alexandar Georgiev.

“I saw it coming at me,” said Koepke, who had four shots on net and seven hits on the Avalanche skaters. “I saw Peeker come down with the puck. I was just trying to get forward in case he was going to throw the ball there and I saw him make a heads-up play and kind of looked right at me and made a great play and just deflected it.”

Beecher was not credited with an assist on Hampus Lindholm's goal that increased the lead to 4-1, but he played a key role in it. Beecher parked his 6-foot, 220-pound body in front of Georgiev, who never saw Lindholm's raising arm.

“The whole line has been great for us,” Lindholm said. “They are the hardest workers out there and deserve everything they get.”

As long as the Triumvirate continues to come after him, Montgomery will continue to call his number, regardless of whether he lists it as the third or fourth line.

“I have always been a coach where you go out, play the right way and show commitment and performance. “You're rewarded with time on the ice,” said Montgomery, “and we have to continue to embed that throughout the lineup.”

…

Leftover Nuggets from the Mile High City: Great performance by Bruins fans at Ball Arena. The place was a sea of ​​black and gold sweaters, and every time the homies started a chant of “Let's Go Avalanche,” they were drowned out by a rebuttal of “Let's Go Bruins.”… It was 81 at the puck drop Grade… The Bruins won 77 percent of face-offs, with Elias Lindholm turning in a 10-of-13 performance from the point… Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar led all players in ice time (27:28), but it seemed that way The former UMass star never left the ice. The next closest player was teammate Nathan MacKinnon (23:48). Charlie McAvoy (22:59) led the Bruins… The Bruins had Thursday off to get some team bonding time in Salt Lake City, where they will face the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday night.

Jim McBride can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @globejimmcbride.