Despite only playing in 12 professional NHL games last season, Seth Griffith has made an impressive impact on the Boston Bruins – an impact that some would consider to be unexpected.

Griffith, 21, was drafted 131st overall in the 2012 NHL draft and spent last year playing for the Providence Bruins of the AHL. In 69 games, Griffith tallied 20 goals and 30 assists for a total of 50 points.

Griffith was called up back in October and has since then been one of the biggest reasons for the Bruins success. He is tied for ninth place in points this season on the Bruins with seven points, and he’s also tied for first place on the team in goals with five – standing alongside Patrice Bergeron, Carl Soderberg and Brad Marchand.

One of the biggest advantages to Griffith’s game would be his dedication to every play he’s part of. Twice this year has he put up a highlight-reel goal, as well as a goal that is already being nominated as the goal of the year.

Often in a play like shown above, the forward will give up on the play as the likelihood of escaping two defensemen is rare. Griffith did not, however, and stuck with the play allowing him to split both defenders and pull off an incredible between-the-legs goal.

In addition to that, Griffith also scored this next goal – another clear example of how he never gives up on a play.

In this goal, Griffith saw an open lane down the ice. Despite the fact that, once again two defenseman were closing in on him, Griffith stayed in his lane and scored an acrobatic goal as he soared in the air – showing signs of Bobby Orr’s 1970 Stanley Cup winning goal.

It’s always great when a player exceeds expectations, however with all the injuries the Bruins are facing right now, it’s essential that Seth Griffith continues to succeed at the NHL level. He’s proving to be a valuable source of offence for the Bruins as they remain in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference.

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