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Player reveals the one major strength Montgomery has over Cassidy

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Dorin Canaday
January 28, 2023  (1:15 PM)
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When Boston fired Bruce Cassidy it was met with mixed reviews from the Bruins faithful.

Even when Jim Montgomery was hired as the new head coach, fans still didn't know how to feel, but it was obviously the right choice when looking how this season is going.

But what has made the Bruins that much more successful under Montgomery?

Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic recently talked with defenseman Mike Reilly, who shared one major change that has helped the team immensely.

Here's what Reilly had to say:

�'Some games (last season under Cassidy), you'd get the puck and you'd be kind of nervous, kind of anxious, �I've got to get this thing right off my stick.' Just kind of freaking out a little bit.''

�'This year, the games I played, I didn't feel that. I felt like Monty's system, he lets guys play to their strengths. That's what I was excited for.''

Reilly, who has spent most of the season with the Providence Bruins of the AHL, appeared in 10 NHL games earlier this year, recording just one assist.

He does make an excellent point though, as the Bruins sit first in the league with a ridiculous 38-6-4 record. Montgomery has maxed out Boston's offensive capabilities, while not losing any of the solid defense they had under Cassidy.

This season, the Bruins have the third best powerplay (26.8%), the best penalty kill (86.4%), while they also have the most goals scored (181) and the least allowed (98).

SOURCE: Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, Bruins' Mike Reilly on being buried in the AHL: 'I was pretty crushed. Still am'.

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