Jim Montgomery, the head coach of the Boston Bruins, caught both fans and analysts off guard with an unexpected lineup shakeup, despite his team's strong 2-0-0 start to the season. This surprising change was a response to what he perceived as an underutilization of their 5-on-5 offensive capabilities during the game against the Nashville Predators.
Montgomery's move was aimed at injecting some much-needed energy into the Bruins' offensive performance. The new line combinations unveiled during Monday's practice featured several notable adjustments. This included Jake DeBrusk, Pavel Zacha, and David Pastrnak forming the top line. Meanwhile, up-and-coming talent Matthew Poitras joined Brad Marchand and Morgan Geekie on the second line, with James van Riemsdyk, Charlie Coyle, and Trent Frederic making up the third line.
Although it's still early in the season, Montgomery emphasized his trust in his observations and the importance of experimenting to enhance the team's performance. He also stressed the need for all players to be ready to face any challenge in the NHL, implying that Poitras would be up against tougher opponents alongside Marchand.
