How Will the Bruins Respond to Montgomery’s Message?
Jim Montgomery, the Boston Bruins’ coach, was dissatisfied with his team’s performance during practice on Monday.
How Will the Bruins Respond to Montgomery’s Message?
Jim Montgomery, the Boston Bruins’ coach, was dissatisfied with his team’s performance during practice on Monday.
How Will the Bruins Respond to Montgomery’s Message?
Jim Montgomery, the Boston Bruins’ coach, was dissatisfied with his team’s performance during practice on Monday.
The Flyers, who are just barely in third place in the Metropolitan Division (the Washington Capitals are two points behind them), overturned two one-goal Boston leads in the third period to win. Simply stated, they desired more, and it showed.
“You’re seeing teams that are fighting for their lives,” Brad Marchand told the media on Monday. “They’re battling on a different level, and they’re already in playoff mode. Even though we’re not in the same situation, we must have the same mindset.
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery didn’t see said mindset at the beginning of Monday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena and subsequently told his team to “wake the f*** up” before signaling for sprints.
It’s not a usual sight at B’s practices. It’s not Montgomery’s usual style. But, it was necessary.
Boston has back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday against top opponents. First, the Bruins will face the Florida Panthers – who are currently first place in the Atlantic – and a team that needs no introduction. Then, they’ll take on another squad making its playoff push in the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jon Cooper’s team holds the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, just four points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs who sit in third place in the division.
What Montgomery has gotten from his group as of late is not going to be enough to beat those teams, and he let his guys know.
“I hated the way we finished the game in Philly,” Montgomery said to the media Monday after practice. “And then we weren’t prepared to practice today. That’s why. Those things coupled together – not ready to start practice on time, guys not knowing what we’re supposed to be doing. Again, I take responsibility for it, there’s got to be some on the players too.”
With only 10 games left in the regular season and consistent inconsistency in their performances, the Bruins know they must get back to their grinding and detail-oriented play. That means elevating their checking game, tightening up gaps in both the neutral and D-zone and working to win puck battles with a second-effort mentality.
