Boston Bruins Head Coach Is Fed Up And Calls Out The NHL In Recent Statement
After the Boston Bruins secured a 5-3 victory against the Detroit Red Wings to close out 2023, head coach Jim Montgomery didn't hesitate to address what he perceived as a significant issue—the lack of protection for key players, namely Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. Montgomery's frustration, evident beyond the specific game, pointed to a recurring problem of opponents targeting the Bruins' stars.
In a post-game interview with Boston Globe reporter Kevin Paul Dupont, Montgomery expressed his concerns about the league's failure to penalize infractions against Pastrnak and Marchand effectively. He suggested opponents had a deliberate gameplan to exploit this perceived vulnerability, shifting the focus from the victory to the broader issue:
«I do think though that there was a gameplan to go after Pastrnak and Marchand,» Montgomery said.
The coach, with an impressive 11-2-4 record on the season, acknowledged that this problem extended beyond his team, citing the abuse faced by other NHL superstars, including Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers. Montgomery emphasized the importance of protecting the league's top players, believing that actions like cross-checks and post-whistle incidents should be promptly addressed:
«I do think that we need to protect the stars in our game,» Montgomery pointed out. «When guys are getting cross-checked and stuff after whistles, I think that's something that needs to be important to the league. We've seen it several years with [Connor] McDavid. Last year he had several points, but the years before, in the playoffs, they allowed people to maul him, and you don't want to take away the great skill of a McDavid, a Pastrnak, or a Marchand because that's what this league is about.»
Montgomery highlighted an incident involving Boston Bruins forward Morgan Geekie and Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot. According to Montgomery, the punch exchanged and the subsequent scrum were direct consequences of referees failing to safeguard players like Pastrnak from unnecessary aggression:
«Yeah, that's a function of it,» Montgomery said. «That all started by someone bodying 'Pasta' and no problem with body contact, but when the extra shoves get high and there's no real reason for it, that's what we want to clean out.»
As the Bruins celebrated their win, Montgomery's words resonated a broader concern about player protection in the NHL. The coach urged the league to take action, ensuring that the exceptional skills of stars aren't overshadowed by unchecked physical play.
Source: Bruinsinsder
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 2 | 243 ANSWERS Boston Bruins Head Coach Is Fed Up And Calls Out The NHL In Recent Statement Should the NHL take stricter measures to penalize infractions against top players and ensure their protection on the ice? | ||
| Yes | 142 | 58.4 % |
| No | 101 | 41.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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