Boston: As the Bruins begin their homestand at TD Garden against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night, they will be looking for their third straight victory. As the stretch run gets closer, Boston is 5-1-1 over its last seven games and has reclaimed the top spot in the NHL rankings with 95 points, one point ahead of the Rangers and Panthers.
“We always planned to start focusing on getting ready for the playoffs in March,” head coach Jim Montgomery stated. Mentally, I believe we’re making progress. We’re not exactly practicing on ice yet, in my opinion. Not that it’s an excuse, but you still have to cope with the challenges of the regular season, and you get to watch every squad
However, the regular season does that. It gets you ready for the postseason, but it doesn’t get you ready for every aspect of it.
In order to determine which player will be the greatest fit for Game 1 of the postseason, Montgomery stated that he will be experimenting with different lineup elements over the course of the last 13 regular season games.
Montgomery remarked, “It’s not so much, see this guy with that guy.” “We’re attempting to determine which lineup will yield the greatest results for us. The goal of the experimentation is to identify that lineup. Again, I can’t express how much it means to me. You’re playing as well as we are, and you’re starting every game in the postseason.
“We’re trying to instill that mindset now, where there’s more pressure to stay in the lineup when you get the chance.”
And although if the Bruins are currently in the same standings position as they were this time last year, their general strategy is very different.
Montgomery remarked, “I find myself pushing more this year.” “Exactly what we aim to achieve and the plan for doing it. We’re competing for home ice and playoff place because those are things that were already secured at this point in the previous season. Players are more responsive and it’s simpler to push because we all know we need to improve. We believed that we were already a well-oiled machine last year.
