If there was any player the Boston Bruins need to have a big second half, it’s Reilly Smith.

Smith won the “7th Player Award” in 2014-2015 as he recorded 20 goals and 31 assists in his first season with the Black and Gold. This year, he has been a shell of himself.

Through 48 games, Smith has 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists). Claude Julien and the B’s need more production out of a top-six forward of his skill set.

Well, in his first game back from the All-Star break, Smith has answered the bell scoring the first goal of the night to give his team a 1-0 lead against the New York Islanders. The 23 year-old also added two assists giving him a three point night in his team’s 5-2 win.

It was Smith’s first goal in 11 games, but he now has one goal and four assists over his last three games which is a great sign for the B’s. His play is starting to trend in the upward direction.

Smith’s success on the night can be credited to Julien. The eighth year Bruins bench boss inserted Smith alongside David Krejci and Milan Lucic so David Pastrnak wouldn’t have to match up against the John Tavares line.

One could say that Julien’s decision paid dividends.

“I thought Smitty could help out on Krejci’s line,” Julien said to NESN’s Jack Edwards and Andy Brickley postgame.

Smith had almost a week to re-cooperate and get his body right and it showed tonight in his three-point performance.

“You have three or four days to relax and you come back with a little jump in your step,” Smith told reporters. “I definitely felt that tonight.”

Smith was the second best player on the ice tonight behind his goaltender Tuukka Rask, who finished the night with 43 saves. He was driving the net and using his speed to beat defenders to spots – as evident by his first period tally.

The 2009 third round pick loves facing off against the Islanders. In five career games against the Isles, Smith has two goals and five assists to go along with a plus-1 rating.

Smith needs to keep his point streak alive. He cannot go on the streaks of zero points for a handful of games at a time, as he did in five straight contests prior to last Tuesday’s matchup against the Dallas Stars. He needs to start showing consistency and by the looks of the last three games, he’s starting to look like the player that earned last year’s “7th Player Award.”