BOSTON -- The last thing Matt Fraser wants to be is a fly-under-the-radar type of player.

The 24-year-old forward for the Boston Bruins does not want to be known as the throw-in player in the Tyler Seguin trade. Fraser wants to make an impact, and he wants to make it in Boston.

He's taken gradual steps toward being that player, and he made a strong statement Saturday night.

Fraser, who had been a healthy scratch the previous five games (eight overall this season), scored a pair of goals Saturday to help the Bruins to a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators at TD Garden. He learned after the warm-up that he would be in the lineup because top-line center David Krejci would not be available due to an undisclosed injury he's been dealing with all season.

Matt Fraser celebrates with Loui Eriksson after scoring one of his two goals Saturday. Brian Babineau/Getty Images

Fraser was inserted onto the left side of the Bruins' third line, along with center Carl Soderberg and right winger Loui Eriksson.

"I've always thought he's been a great player, and he's really waiting for that opportunity to get in, and he took advantage of it tonight," Bruins forward Brad Marchand said. "He's got an unbelievable shot, and if he gets in the position to score, he doesn't miss that many times, so hopefully he continues to play like that."

With the game tied 1-1, Fraser gave the Bruins a 2-1 lead at 11 minutes, 14 seconds of the second period. With a defensive-zone faceoff and the Bruins' third line on the ice, coach Claude Julien had Patrice Bergeron on the ice for the drop. Once the Bruins controlled the play and entered the offensive zone, Bergeron went to the bench, and Fraser jumped on the ice and quickly put himself in perfect position to pump in a rebound.

Fraser is known as a pure shooter, and he lived up to his reputation on his second goal.

After Ottawa defenseman Erik Karlsson was caught pinching at Boston's blue line, Soderberg collected the puck and sent it ahead for Fraser, who gained control and beat Ottawa goalie Robin Lehner to the top-right corner with a shot from the left faceoff circle to give the Bruins a 3-1 lead at 12:42 of the second period.

Fraser did more than just score two goals. He was blocking shots and winning battles along the walls -- and showing no signs of rust, despite not having played since Oct. 18.

Playing and contributing the way he did Saturday served as a major confidence boost for Fraser.

"I'm very critical of myself. I don't need people to tell me how I'm playing because I know when I can be better," Fraser said. "When things are going well, it obviously does a lot for my confidence -- not just scoring the two goals, but I feel like I had a good game all around, and I feel like that's more important than the two goals."

Fraser impressed during training camp and earned a spot on the roster. He's been in and out of the lineup due to his early-season struggles. But getting a chance to play his natural position on the left side, Fraser took advantage.

"Just to be in the lineup is huge for my confidence, but the one thing I've drawn on for myself, like I was never a drafted player. I had to climb walls to get where I am," Fraser said. "It's not easy being a traded guy and kind of being a guy that flies under the radar in the trade. For myself, the end goal has never changed for me. It's not to just be here but to be an impact player. Any time you're sitting out and watching and wondering what's going on, it's definitely challenging. At the end of the day, I've gone through this in my career. That's happened to me before, but you find a way to get past it."

He did on Saturday.