Bruins coach Jim Montgomery reveals playoff goaltending plan on ‘Toucher & Hardy’ debut
During the debut of Toucher & Hardy, Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery discussed the team’s goaltending strategy in the playoffs.
When Hardy asked the coach about the alternating goaltender strategy, Montgomery expressed the intention to continue it in the postseason, citing the mental demands of playoffs and the benefit of giving goaltenders a day off to reset.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 24: Head coach Jim Montgomery of the Boston Bruins looks on against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at the United Center on October 24, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“Yes, I mean, there’s no reason. And I think, you know, you’ve got to learn from the past, too. Last year, I made a mistake by not doing that in the playoffs. And I think that we, as an organization, evaluate everything. When you have two goaltenders and the demands of the playoffs are much more strenuous mentally than they are physically because you’re only playing every second day. It’s not like the regular season. However, the mental demands are significant. If you know you can have a day off to get a breather, reset, refocus, and bring your A-game again, I think it just behooves us to play to our strengths.”
The guys also touched upon a challenging first period against Columbus, with Montgomery emphasizing the focus on habits and details during intermission, leading to improvements in subsequent periods.
LISTEN HERE:
Nick Gemelli is a Producer on Toucher & Hardy and contributor for 985thesportshub.com. Follow Nick at @NickGemelli on Twitter.
Follow @ToucherandHardy on Twitter and @Toucherandhardyofficial to keep up with the show!
Nick Gemelli: The best places to pregame around TD Garden
Outside TD Garden is where I spend a lot of time, armed only with my smartphone and a keen ear for the ground. My aim during the shows is to capture the emotions of fans leaving Bruins and Celtics games.
To put it less formally, I’m basically out there looking for happy or angry folks, especially those who’ve had a bit to drink, to share their excitement or fury with me. Then, We play it back on the show the next day.
A Boston Bruins fan roller blades on Causeway St. prior to Game 1 of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the St. Louis Blues and the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on May 27, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
But, you know, getting audio late at night can be a drag, especially when I have to work in a few hours. One silver lining to these street interviews is the culinary adventure that unfolds around TD Garden. It goes beyond the cheers and disappointments. I take pleasure in exploring both old and new restaurants and bars, savoring their mouth-watering offerings.
So, in a nutshell, I enjoy checking out the diverse food scene around TD Garden—from traditional pub dishes to breweries. This culinary journey helps me power through my late nights and interviews.
HERE ARE MY TOP PREGAME PLACES AROUND TD GARDEN:
