(Boston) Around here, when you get off the plane, the first thing you see on the walls of the airport are images of sporting triumphs.
This way, a huge photo of Tom Brady, at the head of the Patriots. Over there, photos of the Red Sox and the Celtics, also victorious, and then at the end, Patrice Bergeron’s jersey, with images of celebrations in black and gold on the ice.
Every team seems to win in Boston, and the Bruins often win too. Over the last 16 seasons, the Bruins have missed the playoffs just twice. The rest of the time, they won very often, including a Stanley Cup in 2011, and also two other appearances in the grand final. As of writing this, they come in second overall in the NHL.
How is this explained? Let’s give the floor to Jim Montgomery.
“I think there is a standard of excellence here, which the players, the captains, the assistants, over the years, have established,” begins the Quebec coach. We expect to be among the best teams. It’s in the way we train, the way we hold our meetings, the way we start our matches, the way we try to manage them. For us, it’s important to do all this in the right way, and it’s the players who do it. »
PHOTO STEVEN SENNE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
“I think there is a standard of excellence here, that the players, the captains, the assistants, over the years, have established,” says Quebec coach Jim Montgomery.
Among these players, there was Patrice Bergeron, who retired to stay there, despite rumors of a return that recently circulated on social networks. Often, clubs that lose a player of this caliber feel it, but not the Bruins, who continue to win without him.
Which is special, all the same, because in Montgomery’s opinion, Bergeron was among those who established the present culture here.
“He and Zdeno Chara started this,” he added. coach of the Bruins. They wanted the team to have very competitive practices, where everyone was always pushing each other. The idea was to always become better, and to prepare as best as possible, no matter if we were going to face the Canadiens or the Buffalo Sabres. For the guys who are still here, especially (Brad) Marchand, it’s very important that we maintain this standard during practices, and then during matches. »
The sharpest mouths will point out that despite all these successes, the current era of the Bruins has only led to one Stanley Cup, which is perhaps a disappointment given the number of victories obtained during the season.
PHOTO STEPHEN R. SYLVANIE, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVES VIA REUTERS CON
Brad Marchand
Jim Montgomery also remembers very well the very quick exit of his club during the first round of the last series, against the Florida Panthers. A scenario that he is convinced he can avoid this time.
“We are not in the same situation,” he insisted. At this point last season, we already knew we were going to finish first, and now that’s not the case. So we’re not going to be able to rest players, or try to bring minor league players here just to see if they can help us.
“We will have to continue to build our identity. How are we going to win in the series? I think it’s more evident this season; Last year, we thought we could win any match, whether it was 6-5 or 1-0, by playing robustly or with finesse, we could do anything! We’re not like that this year. We can no longer think about winning in every way. »
While waiting to think about the playoffs, the Bruins can think about the present. A good present, certainly, since as they prepare to welcome the Canadian on Saturday evening in Boston, the Bruins are riding a series of three victories, including that of Thursday in Boston, 5-2 against the Avalanche.
Perhaps the three best games for his Bruins this season, according to Jim Montgomery.
“The time we spend in the offensive zone, and the less time we spend in our own zone… We don’t give extra numbers, and we force the other club to defend,” he added . The quality of our scoring chances at 5v5 has greatly increased. »