Jim Montgomery gave a review of the Boston Bruins’ tough preseason after their final game, a 2-0 loss to the Washington Capitals, on Saturday. The Bruins ended their exhibition games with a disappointing five-game losing streak, leading Montgomery to address the team’s poor performance.
The coach was asked if fatigue from training camp affected the play. Montgomery responded that players should be fighting for spots on the roster and stressed that the expectation to compete is high regardless of the circumstances.
“I don’t know. People are fighting for spots on the team. So, you know, you either fight for it or you don’t,” Montgomery said.
Goalie Brandon Bussi stood out during this difficult time. Montgomery noted Bussi’s efforts:
“I thought Brandon Bussi was the only reason it was a close game. He gave us an opportunity going into the third, only down one, and gave us an opportunity all the way up to that second goal going in.”
Jim Montgomery, Morgan Geekie, and Brandon Bussi spoke with the media following the #NHLBruins preseason loss to the Caps. pic.twitter.com/SENgSwvfjO
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 5, 2024
As training camp came to a close, Montgomery talked about Bussi’s progress. He praised the young goalie for getting better with each game, saying that it was his best performance yet. The coach felt positive about the team’s development despite their poor preseason.
Montgomery also said that he enjoyed the structure of practices more than the games. He pointed to penalty kilsl as a positive aspect throughout the preseason, especially during the five road games.
Montgomery discussed the challenges of playing and traveling on the same day as well. He noted that it’s a common issue for teams in the league and explained that these conditions usually don’t reflect how the regular season plays out.
Challenges in Boston Bruins preparation for season opener
The Boston Bruins struggled to gain momentum in preseason. They lost their first game 3-2 against the New York Rangers and followed up with a 5-2 loss to the same opponents. They also fell in overtime to the Philadelphia Flyers before losing two more games, including a shutout against the Capitals.
Against Washington, the Capitals showed their strength, with Aliaksei Protas and Trevor van Riemsdyk scoring. The Boston Bruins had trouble converting their chances, putting more pressure on Bussi.
Ahead of the team’s opener, the Boston Bruins coaching staff along with the players must translate their practice success into games, with Montgomery’s insights.
