WASHINGTON (AP) — Jim Montgomery wanted the Boston Bruins to show who they have, not who they don’t have, to start the season.
Turns out who they have, even missing two key players to injury for quite some time, is still pretty good.
David Pastrnak had a goal and three assists, captain Patrice Bergeron scored and Boston beat the Washington Capitals 5-2 om Wednesday night to give Montgomery a victory in his Bruins coaching debut. Bergeron got the puck for Montgomery after the final horn, a symbol of the first accomplishment in a long season.
“It’s going on the mantle, probably in my son’s room,” said Montgomery, who was working his first NHL game as a head coach since Dec. 7, 2019. “It feels great, but more importantly, we do this together. And it’s an honor to lead that group.”
Without winger Brad Marchand and No. 1 defenseman Charlie McAvoy, whose absences were considered long term after offseason surgeries, the group still clicked a lot like the Bruins who made the playoffs each of the past six seasons.
It doesn’t hurt to have Pastrnak playing at his best: assisting on Bergeron’s power-play goal with the initial shot that turned into a juicy rebound and setting up Taylor Hall with a perfect pass into the middle of the ice to put Boston up 3-0. Washington scored twice before Pastrnak took the shot that turned into David Krejci’s sealing goal with 3:43 left.
“He’s growing each year,” said Krejci, who had a goal and two assists in his first game back in the NHL after playing last season in his native Czech Republic. “He’s just a world-class player. It’s crazy. That guy has no ceilings. He just keeps getting better.”
Krejci’s return to North America coincided with Bergeron coming back for a 19th season with the Bruins, which he got off to a nice start by scoring his 401st career goal.
Montgomery is back running an NHL bench less than three years after he was fired by the Dallas Stars for unprofessional conduct. He sought and received help for alcohol abuse, spent time as an assistant in St. Louis and is getting another chance with Boston.
Linus Ullmark, who figures to rotate starts with Jeremy Swayman in net for Boston, made 33 saves, including a flashy grab with his glove to rob Evgeny Kuznetsov early in the third period.
“He was awesome,” Montgomery said. “He battled hard. He fought for every rebound. He was really good for us.”
Darcy Kuemper struggled a bit in his Capitals debut less than three months since