Boston Bruins Head Coach Jim Montgomery expressed his frustration with his team Monday after a 4-3 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the second loss to Florida this season. The Panthers have eliminated the Bruins each of the last two postseasons and seem to have the Bruins’ number. Boston spent the offseason adding size and toughness to their lineup, only to see the same results so far this season. After the game, Montgomery did not mince words and mentioned a primary reason for Florida’s dominance over Boston:
“They’re winning the mental side of the battle on us,” Montgomery said bluntly. “Yep, Pasta got hit. And I love, love what Pav did. Went in, defended him. That’s great. But the penalties after that, I mean, it’s just not disciplined. It’s all four games [this season] that we take at least four minors. You can’t win hockey games that way.”
Montgomery is in the midst of the last year of a three-year contract as the Bruins’ head man. Boston had a historic regular season two years ago, winning 65 games, and was a point off the Atlantic Division race last season with 109 points. However, the Bruins were bounced from the playoffs after blowing a 3-1 series lead two years ago and lost to Florida in the second round in six games last season. The Panthers seem to get under the skin of Bruins’ players, and Boston has had emotional responses to Florida’s antics. This is something that Montgomery says can not happen.
Montgomery also pointed to Florida winning pucks and playing with more effort, which the Bruins have to improve upon if Boston is going to get past the Panthers this season:
“You can’t lose as many battles as we do,” Montgomery said. “They’re the standard right now in the NHL for winning battles, and we’re not up to that level yet. We have to vastly improve to that level.” The Bruins are getting good production from the fourth line, but it is the top two lines that have struggled, particularly the second line of Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle, and Morgan Geekie, who are a combined minus-11 as a unit with zero points 5-on-5:
“Really happy with the bottom six,” Montgomery made sure to note. “The fourth line has been very, very impressive. They’re just doing their role,” Montgomery added before then calling out those above them in the lineup. “Guys in the top six aren’t doing their role. They are doing their role.”
Boston will need to respond to another loss to Florida as they embark on a three-game road trip beginning in Colorado Wednesday night, however, the Panthers will continue to be in the back of their minds as they try to figure out how to beat a more disciplined team that clearly has all the confidence in the world against them. If they do not figure it out, Jim Montgomery could be fearful of losing his job.
