Jim Montgomery Takes Cheap A Shot At Matthew Poitras

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Austin Sabourin
December 10, 2023 (1:36 PM)

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Saturday shaped up as a potential rebound opportunity for Matt Poitras, the Bruins' rookie center.

Returning to TD Garden after a six-day break from his last game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Poitras was expected to play a significant role in the matinee matchup against the Arizona Coyotes.

Jim Montgomery's decision to keep the 19-year-old out of the lineup for the previous game against the Sabres was part of a strategic plan to ensure Poitras stays fresh throughout the demanding 82-game season.

With Pavel Zacha exiting the game early due to an upper-body injury, Poitras had the chance to step into a more prominent role. However, despite the opportunity, Poitras only saw 8:26 of ice time in Boston's win. Montgomery, postgame, revealed that this intentional reduction in minutes was not due to injury but rather a deliberate move to emphasize game management.

Acknowledging that game management is an area where Poitras needs improvement, Montgomery explained,

"It's valuing game management is something that we've talked to him about. And it's still lacking in his game right now. We're paid to win hockey games, and I'm gonna go with the guys that I think are gonna win us a hockey game."

The postgame comments shed light on the coach's strategic decisions and underscore the ongoing development of Poitras as he navigates his rookie season in the NHL.