BOSTON — Jim Montgomery acknowledged that he wanted to win Thursday’s game against his former Bruins team. Not because of the emotions behind it, but because the game mattered to the Blues coach.
That didn’t happen, though. St. Louis fell, 5-2, to the Bruins.
Montgomery acknowledged the TD Garden crowd in the first period as the jumbotron displayed, “Welcome back, Monty,” but the coach was a man of few words after the game.
“Bruins were really good,” Montgomery said when asked for his general thoughts. “We weren’t.”
What areas could St. Louis have been better?
“Every one,” Montgomery said.
Montgomery had a quick hook of Jordan Binnington after the goalie gave up two goals on five shots in the first period against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday. Despite Binnington giving up two goals in the first and three in the second, Montgomery stuck with the veteran goalie.
“I think Jordan Binnington was one of our better players tonight,” Montgomery said. “If it wasn’t for him, it could have been a lot worse.”
The Blues fell to 9-12-7 after Thursday’s loss. He admitted the team’s struggles are “an effort thing” but that it’s a simple fix.
A simple fix is easier said than done. Two months into the season, the Blues are near the bottom of the Central Division standings. He didn’t elaborate, but Montgomery was asked whether he was surprised it’s taken this long when it comes to getting more effort from the Blues to win games.
“Yes,” he said.
The Blues now prepare for the Ottawa Senators, who they beat on Nov. 28.