Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery made a significant change in practice on Monday regarding one of the team’s major areas of concern — the power play.
The Bruins bench boss swapped out Charlie McAvoy from the top unit in favor of fellow defenseman Hampus Lindholm at the point.
The message to Lindholm was pretty simple — play his game.
“Be direct like he’s been 5-on-5,” Montgomery told reporters at Warrior Ice Arena. “I think he’s a person on our team that has some offensive confidence right now. I just want him to be direct. We find our power play is being slow, so we just want him shooting pucks or moving pucks quickly.”
Lindholm appears to understand the assignment and is looking forward to the opportunity to help his team.
“I’m going to keep playing the way I’ve been playing,” Lindholm said. “Trying to get a lot of pucks to the net. Be a shooter, be a threat up there on the blue line and keep moving pucks quick.”
Montgomery believes that if the Bruins can fix their power play struggles, then it will carry over to the other areas of their game. The Black and Gold’s man advantage is ranked 29th in the league with a 12.5% success rate. They went 0-for-2 in their overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday night.
“After reviewing the last game, there was clearly a lull in our team after not scoring on the power play,” he said. “It really affects the power-play guys a lot because they’re used to getting mojo and swagger from that. You get good offensive touches in there, you get good looks; you’re going to feel better about your 5-on-5 play.”
Lindholm said he has been looking to add more offense to his game after having a career year in the 2022-23 season when he registered 53 points, compared to the 26-point output last season.
“I looked at my game last year and then the year before,” he said. “I was in a little different role than I was last year and maybe this year. But, I’m still trying to find ways to produce.”
With three goals scored this season, Lindholm has already equaled the number he scored in the 2023-24 campaign. Montgomery has noticed the change in his game.
“I think he’s been a lot more assertive,” Montgomery explained. “He’s being shot-first mentality for sure. I think that in the other two zones when he moves the puck, he’s moving it and joining (the play). So, when he gets (the puck) he has more time instead of trying to be the first or second forechecker. He’s moving it and jumping by those guys so when he’s joining the play, he has more time.”
