As his team was in danger of falling apart and losing a first-round series they once led 3-1 for the second year in a row, Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery publicly criticized star forward David Pastrnak on May 2.
Montgomery compared Bruins leader Brad Marchand‘s efforts to Pastrnak's, praising Marchand while warning Pastrnak to “step up” for the crucial May 4 Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs .
Montgomery today on how the message was received by Pastrnak:
"I talked to him right after the game about it. I talked to him about it during the game. Pasta and I have a real healthy communicative relationship and he's ready to go." https://t.co/TcoktEmNcQ
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) May 3, 2024
Montgomery spoke with Pastrnak after the game and during the game on May 3, according to a comment to reporters on May 3,
via Boston Globe’s Conor Ryan . “Pasta and I have a really healthy, communicative relationship, and he’s ready to go.”Despite Montgomery’s explanation, the truth is that Boston will need to avoid elimination on Saturday to move past any further negative impact.
David Pastrnak
Struggling In Toronto Maple Leafs Matchup Montgomery critiqued Pastrnak following the Game 6 2-1 loss in Toronto to the Leafs, which tied the first-round series between both teams before the decisive Game 7.
“Your best players need to perform at their best this time of year,”
Montgomery told reporters in his postgame press conference on May 2 . “They need to deliver crucial plays in significant moments.“[Brad] Marchand has shown this throughout the series. [
David Pastrnak] needs to step up.”Following the Game 6 loss, Pastrnak has scored 4 points while Marchand has scored 8 points, doubling the production of his fellow Bruins teammate. However, during the regular season, Pastrnak scored 110 points to Marchand’s 67, with both appearing in all 82 games.
Boston’s 3-1 win against the Leafs in Game 4 was the last time Pastrnak scored a goal this postseason, although it didn’t have much impact as it only added one more score to a game already decided… by a game-winning goal scored by Marchand on a power-play opportunity earlier in that game.
“[Pastrnak] needs to be a dominant player like he used to. He’s doing it in bursts, but not consistently,” Montgomery stated.
Bruins Fighting to Avoid Back-to-Back Historic Collapses
The Bruins are in a precarious situation that could have significant consequences for the entire franchise.
After taking a 3-1 series lead in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup against the Florida Panthers, the Bruins collapsed and were eliminated in seven games. This year, after holding a 3-1 lead against the Leafs, Boston is in a similarly risky position entering Game 7.
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman discussed the situation and the potential impact of a Game 7 loss
on May 3 in a segment of his latest 32 Thoughts podcast episode Boston is a very demanding organization. They expect greatness from their Bruins and last year was a big disappointment,” Friedman said. “I think if we have this two years in a row, Boston, to me, the organization of the Jacobs family and in particular, I don’t see them taking this easily and ‘Nothing to see here’ and I just don’t believe that.”.
in particular, I don’t see them taking this easily and ‘Nothing to see here’ and I just don’t believe that.” Cam Neely On the other side of the situation, the Toronto Maple Leafs are also facing an important game for the future of the team considering there have been
rumors about the organization possibly firing head coach Sheldon Keefe Game 7 is set for Saturday, May 3, taking place in Boston as the Bruins will host the Leafs for a final first-round matchup between both teams. The winner of Game 7 will face the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals..
Bruins forward David Pastrnak and head coach Jim Montgomery don’t seem to have an issue amid heated criticism.
