UNBLIEVABLE: Jim Montgomery decide to …..

Bruins Head Coach Jim Montgomery’s Decisions Led to Depressing Defeat

Reflecting upon the catastrophic collapse witnessed in Boston last Sunday night, there are serious question marks circling the decision-making of Bruins Head Coach Jim Montgomery. The Bruins destroyed competition throughout the regular season. Boston had broken the NHL record for most points in a season (135) and most wins (65) on their way to the franchise’s 4th President’s Trophy. This team seemed to have it all: star power up front, elite defensive play, and the best goalie tandem in the league.

There are factors that are out of a head coach’s control, like illness and injury. In hindsight, it is easy to blame Montgomery for allowing Patrice Bergeron to play Game 82 in Montreal and consequentially herniate a disk in his back, however, the captain is a 20-year NHL veteran who is not one to take a backseat. Bergeron wanted to play his potential last regular season game in front of his friends, family, and ill father in his home province of Quebec.

Heading into Game 1, Boston’s locker room was hit with a stomach virus. Reports surfaced of several unknown members of the team who were questionable for the first game of the series.

Though the lineup included everyone except Bergeron — who was listed out due to illness rather than injury — it is safe to presume some of the players were channeling their Michael Jordan flu game and may not have been back to 100% until their trip back to Florida for Game 3.

As previously mentioned, Coach Montgomery does not have control over some factors when it comes to the postseason. But the factors he did have control over must be questioned.