Bruins Head Coach Calls Out Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Star Players Over Early Season Slump

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Graham Montgomery
October 31, 2024 (10:10)

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Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery called out his star players on Tuesday after his team was shutout by the Philadelphia Flyers.

Flyers netminder Samuel Ersson made 25 saves in the win, recording his 6th career shutout. The Bruins generally outplayed the Flyers outshooting them 25-18 but at the end of the day, the 25-year-old Swedish netminder stood tall.

After the game, Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery was not pleased with the effort from the team's best players including David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand. He did not call out anyone by name, just saying that your star players have to take control of the game.

"Well, on every team, your best players-your star players-have to carry the weight, the load offensively. Those are the players out on the power play, and right now, offense isn't materializing for us."

Bruins captain Brad Marchand also spoke to reporters after the game. He gave the Flyers credit, implying that they may have taken them for granted as an easy opponent. With the loss, the Flyers came within 2 points of the Bruins in the standings despite the fact these teams were separated by more than 20 points last season. Notably, Marchand had one of the best scoring chances of the game, but he ultimately the puck stayed out.

"You have to respect every team every night. We had opportunities tonight, especially the first two periods. After the second, it easily could have been a tie game, but we let it get away from us a little bit, and again, just have to continue to build on the right things."

Bruins fans have noted that Marchand looks rough out there right now, saying that it is hard to watch. Not only is he 36 years old, but the Bruins Captain is recovering from three offseason surgeries and he missed virtually all of training camp. It is clear that he isn't quite the player he used to be, but most were probably not expecting him to look this bad this far into the season.

Marchand has a single goal and five assists for the season. Two of those points came in Saturday's 4-3 Overtime victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs. David Pastrnak has 6 goals and 2 assists on the season, but again, outside the Toronto game, he has just one goal in his last four games. Montgomery is right. If the Bruins are going to turn things around, they need their top players to step up.