Jim Montgomery Teaches Bruins Rookie A Lesson
In a lesson provided by Jim Montgomery to a Bruins rookie, Montgomery decided to shuffle his lines on Thursday night in hopes of igniting the offense. This adjustment presented a significant opportunity for Matthew Poitras, but the young Bruins rookie revealed that there's still room for improvement in his game.
Facing off against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center, the Boston Bruins secured a 3-1 victory, maintaining their undefeated record through the first three games of the season. Montgomery, along with team captain Brad Marchand, made several alterations throughout the game to address the team's inconsistent offensive performance.
Poitras was slotted into the starting lineup alongside Marchand and Morgan Geekie on the top line. However, the 19-year-old struggled, finishing with a minus-1 rating in 12 minutes and 18 seconds of ice time, and winning only 4 out of 9 faceoffs.
With the clock ticking on Poitras' entry-level contract, the early part of the season is a critical period for the rookie to prove he belongs in the NHL. In response, Montgomery offered a straightforward piece of advice to the 2022 second-round draft pick.
While Poitras and fellow rookie Johnny Beecher showcased their potential in the season opener, the ultimate challenge for any NHL player is consistency and the ability to deliver their best performance over the course of an 82-game season.
As of Friday morning, it remains uncertain whether Montgomery will continue to adjust the lines or if Poitras will receive another opportunity on the first line. Nevertheless, a matchup against the 2-1-1 Los Angeles Kings promises to be a meaningful test for Poitras.
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| POLL | ||
Do you think Poitras will have a better game next game? | ||
| Yes | 173 | 87.8 % |
| No | 24 | 12.2 % |
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