TORONTO – During a recent Bruins game at TD Garden, a fan in section 318 screamed: “C’mon, Heinen. Do something.”

He might want to check his eyes. Believe it or not, Danton Heinen makes an impact almost every time he’s on the ice.

There’s a reason why coach Bruce Cassidy trusts the 24-year-old forward. He’s versatile. He can play up and down the lineup. He has the ability to win 50/50 pucks more often than not. He’s gaining more confidence on special teams. His puck retrieval is uncanny.

Stealthy might be the best description of his game.

Heinen’s biggest improvement versus previous years has been his willingness to play in the dirty areas of the ice, battling in the corners and in front of the net. Those aren’t comfortable positions to be in, but he’s become relentless in those areas.

“We’ve encouraged not just using your stick, your hands and your brain – use your body, and he does,” Cassidy said. “He’s made good progress. I like the work he’s done.”

Mark Recchi is a former Bruin and three-time Stanley Cup winner who made his Hall-of-Fame career playing that style of hockey. We’re not comparing Heinen and Recchi, but there’s an art to having success at the NHL level and young players understand having an old-school mentality quickly earns the respect of coaches, teammates and opponents.

“You’ve got to be willing to go there,” Recchi said. “It’s not an easy spot to go to and it continues to get harder and harder as teams defend even better and players are faster. It’s a mindset to be willing to go there and pay a price.”

That’s why most 5-on-5 goals are scored within 10 feet of the net.

“That’s where you’re going to score goals, so I’ll keep on trying to go to the net,” Heinen said.

Even though bruises from two-handers, cross-checks to the back and slashes don’t show up on the score sheet, it pays dividends to have success in front and in the corners. Heinen recently scored a nifty goal with two defenders draped on his back at the top of the paint. He was able to gain body position, gain control of the puck, and slip it past the goaltender.

Still, he considers his development in those areas a work in progress.

“I’m always trying to work on battles, whether it’s on the walls, or down low,” said the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Heinen. “Guys are big and strong and I can do a better job of finding pucks in front of the net. A lot of times this year I’ve felt like I go to the net maybe I’m turning the wrong way and I can do a better job of finding pucks and bearing down in front.”

All can be chaos in front of the net and in the corners. Play is unpredictable in those areas, so how can a player improve his tactics?

“Sometimes you don’t want to overwork,” Heinen said. “Maybe I can be a tad more patient and a little more touch, or finesse in front instead of just jamming it. I’ve got to tell myself to be hard, but also patient at the same time.”

With Jake DeBrusk sidelined due to injury, Heinen has been given an opportunity to work on the top power-play unit. His role is to win pucks and get to the front of the net. Two of his four goals this season have come on the power play.

“Keeping pucks alive in that role, first and foremost,” Cassidy said of Heinen’s contributions on the power play. “Recover pucks and be a net-front presence. He’s getting better. Since the start of the year he’s been winning more battles.”

His statistics may not jump off the score sheet, but he doing plenty of work on the ice, while creating chances offensively, and denying opponents’ opportunities at the other end. Heinen’s overall ability will play a key role against the Toronto Maple Leafs Friday night, especially as the Bruins look to snap a four-game skid.

(Photo of Heinen: Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)