Jim Montgomery calls out captain Brad Marchand after he caused a brutal turnover against the Utah Hockey Club
Head coach of the Bruins Jim Montgomery was seeing red with captain Brad Marchand after a brutal turnover caused a goal, and lashed out.
Brad Marchand's offseason wasn't exactly filled with rest. Following the second-round exit of the Boston Bruins at the hands of the upstart Florida Panthers, he took some time off for vacations. But it wasn't long before Marchand had to go under the knife a couple of times, once for his elbow, groin, and abdomen, to get ready for the 2024-25 NHL season. His commitment to recovery and determination to be ready for the opener showed great leadership, and a commitment to success.
Marchand proved himself once again in some of these early-season games. He had four points over six games as he helped the Bruins to a 3-2-1 record. Good offensively, but he wasn't perfect. In the recent game against the Utah Hockey Club, Marchand made a crucial mistake that almost cost the Bruins a win.
With the game in its final minutes of play, Marchand fumbled the puck at Utah's blue line for a turnover. The Utah Hockey Club didn't waste any time as it went directly to the back of the net against the Bruins. As Marchand made his way back to the bench, his frustration would be far outnumbered by that of his head coach, Jim Montgomery, who let him hear about it regarding his mistake. It was clear to see the anger in the coach's face, even to the extent that he gave Marchand a tap on the shoulder, a rare public show of disapproval for the veteran forward.
Although that goal was eventually waved off because of an offside call, Montgomery's frustration didn't wear off. Star players, especially one of Marchand's caliber, aren't supposed to make mistakes like that, and Montgomery's reaction simply showed just what high standard he has for his team. Eventually, the Bruins would go on to drop the game 2-1, with Marchand picking up an assist on Boston's lone goal of the night.
As the Bruins head into their next game against the Nashville Predators, there's little question that Brad Marchand will be looking to atone for his mistake. Knowing full well that a contract renewal awaits him next summer, every game will certainly count, and he'll be gunning not just to prove his worth as a leader but as a player in whom Boston can continue to invest for years to come.
