The right-shot forward made his Bruins debut on March 1, a day after the trade deadline. The Bruins have reeled off a 5-0-2 run since he’s entered the lineup. He has made his line better.

As much as Lee Stempniak has clicked with first-line mates Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron since his arrival, Acciari has been just as thorough with fellow fourth-liners Landon Ferraro and Brett Connolly. Acciari, the No. 4 center for the last seven games, has played with pace, bite, and dependability. Such qualities have promptly earned the native of Johnston, R.I., regular shifts in coach Claude Julien’s rotation.


“I think Noel is doing a great job in our D-zone as far as really being reliable, closing quickly,” Julien said after the Bruins’ 3-1 win over the Islanders on Saturday. “On the offensive side, those other two guys are skating and creating some opportunities there, so I think we’ve got a good combination so far.”

The additions of Acciari and Stempniak, who both pulled on Black and Gold for the first time against the Flames, have made a big impact on the roster. Stempniak has been an excellent fit on the first line because of his skating, experience, and hockey sense. The ex-Dartmouth winger has one goal and five assists in seven games. He has yet to snap in pucks at the rate he’d like. The goals will come.

Stempniak’s arrival also created a trickledown effect that has manifested on the fourth line. Connolly, formerly the No. 1 right wing, has been grinding on the fourth line since the Bruins acquired Stempniak. He’s playing against lesser competition than he did while skating with Marchand and Bergeron. With his ice time down, Connolly can squeeze more energy into each shift than he did when assuming a heavier workload on the first line.


The Bruins also made a good decision in promoting Acciari at the same time as acquiring Stempniak.

The fourth line has produced spurts of production. It was at its best in mid-January when Ferraro, Zac Rinaldo, and Max Talbot found some chemistry. The three forwards skated well, created energy, and disrupted opponents’ rhythm with their pace of play.

But for most of the season, the fourth line had been chasing the game. Such is the group’s nature. Its priority was to not get scored upon. This mandate showed in its play, especially when Joonas Kemppainen served as its pivot.

The Bruins were satisfied with Kemppainen’s play above the puck, in defensive coverage, and on the draw. The coaching staff had a good idea what Kemppainen would do on most shifts. But Kemppainen’s tendency was to let the play come to him. The result was that the fourth line didn’t play with the puck enough.

So as the trade deadline approached, general manager Don Sweeney took the uncomfortable but bold action of transforming his fourth line. On Feb. 29, after Rinaldo and Talbot cleared waivers, Sweeney sent them both to Providence. Kemppainen joined them on 95 South.

It wasn’t easy for Sweeney. Kemppainen and Rinaldo were his guys. On May 21, 2015, one day after becoming GM, Sweeney signed Kemppainen to a one-year contract. On June 29, Sweeney ceded a third-rounder to the Flyers to acquire Rinaldo. It’s possible Rinaldo and Kemppainen have played their final games as Bruins.


Acciari, signed by Sweeney on June 8, came north. The former national champion at Providence College has been critical in the fourth line’s transformation.

While Acciari may not be as experienced or heavy on the puck as Kemppainen, he’s initiated action instead of waiting for it. He’s been aggressive on the forecheck. In the neutral and defensive zones, Acciari has been quick to close on puck carriers.

The active approach has given the fourth line more chances to control the puck. It’s worked in their favor. All three fourth-liners are plus skaters. On Saturday, they held their own against Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, and Cal Clutterbuck, considered one of the best fourth lines in the league.

In the second period, Martin’s forecheck on Zdeno Chara helped the Islanders score their only goal. At the end of his shift, Martin ran into Chara behind the goal line, forcing the captain to cough up the puck. The turnover was the first in a chain of events that resulted in an unmarked John Tavares beating Tuukka Rask. By then, Martin had gone off for a change. But without his play, the goal would not have taken place.

In turn, the Bruins’ fourth line was not on the ice. The Islanders had scored against David Krejci’s line. Aside from an extended shift in the first, the Bruins’ fourth line did not chase the puck.

“We all skate really well and we can make plays, so it’s been good so far,” Ferraro said. “We just need to make sure we keep it going, don’t get too comfortable, or start trying to do too much. We just have to keep it simple and make sure we get our chances, but we get pucks out.”


The Bruins went 0-3 against San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles when they visited TD Garden this season. Now, the Bruins are in better shape to do battle with the California clubs on their upcoming three-game trip. Acciari, the 24-year-old undrafted rookie, is one reason the Bruins are in better shape.

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeFluto.