BOSTON — David Pastrňák is the Boston Bruins’ best player. The No. 1 right wing’s $11.25 million average salary makes him the eighth-highest-paid player in the league.
Coach Jim Montgomery did not care.
For all of Pastrňák’s accomplishments, Montgomery designated the right wing as the Bruins’ grocery stick, sitting between the defensemen and the forwards, for the entire third period of his team’s 2-0 win over the Seattle Kraken.
“Coach’s decision, third period,” Montgomery said. “That’s all I’m going to comment on.”
Even though he played just two periods, Pastrňák led all players with seven shots on goal. His power-play presence helped Charlie Coyle get open in the first period for the team’s second goal.
In Montgomery’s mind, none of that was good enough for Pastrňák to earn a single third-period shift. Pastrňák was tagged with two giveaways in 14:21 of ice time. During a power play late in the second, Pastrňák did not do enough to stop Yanni Gourde from firing three shorthanded shots on Jeremy Swayman.
The only time Pastrňák hit the ice in the third was during a TV timeout at 11:09. He took a few short turns, touched the puck and returned to the bench.
Pastrňák was not available for comment after the win.
“Do we want our best players playing? Yeah. I don’t know the full extent of that,” Coyle said of Pastrňák’s sitdown. “I don’t know what was going on. Sometimes you’re so in tune to the game that you’re just kind of ready to see who you’re going with next. There’s really no time to think. Whatever the coach says and whatever his decisions are, you’ve just got to go play. There’s a hockey game to be played.
“Pasta there, he wasn’t silent. He was bringing energy. He was talking. He was into it. That’s a sign of a good teammate right there. That’s why he wears a letter. That’s why he’s one of our captains, one of our leaders. Lot to be said for that.”
The Bruins have won their last two games. One night after shutting out the Philadelphia Flyers, they did the same to the Kraken.
But by no means are the 6-6-1 Bruins out of the woods. The Flyers are short on varsity players. The Kraken were playing their fourth game on a five-stop road trip.
Nobody knows this better than Montgomery.
For his first two seasons, Montgomery did not have much reason to raise his voice. They won a record-setting 65 wins in 2022-23. They advanced to Round 2 last year.
But in Year 3 of his three-year deal and no extension in place, Montgomery is finding himself in an unfamiliar position: staring at a dashboard with multiple red lights flashing. He is turning more toward firmness, be it barking at Brad Marchand or parking Pastrňák.
Montgomery’s job depends on whether he can put this thing back on the rails. If that means being hard on his best players, Montgomery is showing no hesitation of doing so. This is Dark Monty.
“We all play on the same team,” Coyle said. “There’s no special treatment for anyone. I think that’s how it should be. I think we all take responsibility. You ask any one of us who have been in that position who’ve gotten an earful or whatever, it’s probably for a good reason. We’re all competitive. We all want to play. We’ve all got to be responsible in our own way. And Monty holds us accountable. That’s only going to make us better as a team individually, but as a team as well. I don’t think guys would change that. We’re grown enough to accept that. Yeah, we know when we mess up. Sometimes there needs to be something said or an action that takes place.”
The Bruins have a good test on Tuesday when they play the Toronto Maple Leafs. Based on Montgomery’s history, he will give Pastrňák every opportunity to make an impact. Pastrňák’s teammates are expecting him to respond.
“He’s one of the most important players on our team,” Charlie McAvoy said. “He’s an assistant captain here. He’s so vital to this group. The only thing that matters is us getting two points. I know the way he prepares and the success he wants to have and how much of a competitor he is. Toronto, we can shift the focus. The schedule is like this, this and this. There’s no time to wallow around.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him in Toronto. I think he’s going to have a great game.”
(Top photo: Steve Babineau / NHLI via Getty Images)
