The Bruins’ fourth line isn’t just exceeding expectations. They have been the best line in hockey.

A convincing case could be made that they have been Boston’s top line so far in 2024-25, with the triumvirate combining for six goals and 15 total points out of the gate.

But a look at the underlying numbers doesn’t just paint a bottom-six crew that punches well above its weight on Boston’s roster.

Through five games, the Beecher-Kastelic-Koepke line has been the best three-man unit in hockey.

As we all predicted, of course.

“They’re earning all the ice time they’re getting, and their detail, their work ethic, their puck support for each other, offensively and defensively, allows them to have tremendous success,” Montgomery noted. .

Small sample size aside, the Kastelic line doesn’t have the same star power as some of hockey’s other top trios.

They can’t put opposing skaters on their heels to the same degree as lines anchored by Nathan MacKinnon or Connor McDavid. They don’t have the same two-way credentials present on the front lines as the Kings (Anze Kopitar) or the Panthers (Sasha Barkov).

But so far this season, Boston’s revamped fourth line has developed a knack for putting opponents on the ropes thanks to a seemingly relentless drive and simple, north-south play.

And so far, the statistics speak for themselves.

Through five games now, the Beecher-Kastelic-Koepke line has logged 40:04 of ice time together, according to NaturalStatTrick. During that stretch, the Bruins have outscored their opponents 9-0.

Take out Beecher’s empty-netter Wednesday that iced Boston’s win at Denver, and that unit still holds an 8-0 advantage in 5-on-5 play.

This unbalanced offensive output when Boston’s fourth line is winning puck battles and putting its weight on the forecheck has been welcomed by Montgomery, especially as the rest of Boston’s revamped forward corps tries to find its footing.

Even with a second line with Charlie Coyle and Brad Marchand still looking for some cohesion (zero goals for, two goals against in their 41:25 of 5-on-5 reps), the Bruins are still giving times thanks to his foot soldiers more. down on the depth chart.

“This whole line has been amazing for us. They’re the hardest workers out there and they earn everything they get,” Hampus Lindholm said Wednesday.

What makes Boston’s significant advantage with Kastelic’s crew on the ice even more impressive is that the trio is seizing momentum while being handed defensive duties.

While the Bruins have outscored teams, 2-0, in the 44:22 of 5-on-5 ice time that their top line of Pavel Zacha, David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm has been on the ice, they have also they have made 63. percent of their faceoffs set in the offensive zone.

The Kastelic line has had just 34.6 percent of its faceoffs set in the offensive zone during 5-on-5 action, with Montgomery typically tasking them with daunting D-zone plays, usually while matched up against the six best skaters

Given these unfavorable shifts, which are usually spent treading water in their own zone, many of the effective fourth lines are not awarded with free stat lines.

The last time Boston went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2018-19, their fourth line of Chris Wagner, Sean Kuraly and Noel Acciari was a key driver for that squad. But during his 401:55 of 5-on-5 reps that year, Boston was actually outscored when they were on the ice, 14-8.

Given the limited number of starts they’ve had in the offensive zone, this group wasn’t necessarily expected to finish the year with a positive goal differential.

That’s what makes Kastelic’s line start to shine, with those eight 5-on-5 goals already matching the Kuraly line’s season output in 2018-19 all the more amazing.

After recording 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 52 games during his rookie season, Beecher now has five points in five games. Beyond his empty net Wednesday, Beecher provided the screen in front of Alexander Georgiev that allowed Hampus Lindholm to slide a puck past the goalie at 9:22 of the second period.

Even with zero points on the scoreboard Wednesday, Kastelic left his fingerprints on the rest of the scoreboard, winning six of his eight faceoffs in 16:21 of ice time.

And Koepke, who entered the season with just three points in 26 NHL games over two years with the Lightning, already has two goals and five points in his first five games in a black and gold jersey.

He turned the light on again Wednesday after tipping an Andrew Peeke shot past Georgiev at 13:46 of the first.

“It was a big surprise,” Montgomery said of Koepke, who had four shots on goal in 2 p.m. ice time Wednesday. “I don’t think it surprised our pro scouts that much who recommended him. They talked a lot about him, and he’s rewarding the scouts and us with the effort and how he’s playing.”

It’s anything but a given that Boston’s line of check will slow down offensively as the year progresses.

At least, that’s the conventional thinking when it comes to fourth-line regulars, especially a Boston group with just 237 combined games of NHL experience.

But so far, this line seems to be setting a track record of defying expectations.

Conor Ryan can be reached at [email protected].