Jon Cooper says Canadiens fans’ boos are fueling Nikita Kucherov at the Bell Centre
Montreal Hockey Fanatics has no direct affiliation to the Montreal Canadiens, NHL or NHLPA
Photo credit: Screenshot
Montreal Canadiens fans boo Nikita Kucherov every time he touches the puck at the Bell Centre.
And according to Jon Cooper, that’s exactly what Kucherov wants.
The Tampa Bay Lightning head coach delivered an unexpected message to Montreal Canadiens fans earlier.
The crowd’s hostility adds an extra layer of motivation to Kucherov’s game.
Cooper himself said it to reporters before the game.
Journalist Gabby Shirley, who was at the Bell Centre, witnessed it live.
“These fans are booing Kucherov every time he touches the puck… earlier today, Jon Cooper told us that that hate definitely adds another element of motivation to his game”
– Gabby Shirley
Jon Cooper’s message on Kucherov boos could backfire as Bell Centre crowd doubles down
It’s the kind of statement that cuts both ways.
Cooper is trying to tell Montreal fans that their boos are only making Kucherov better.
But will it actually work?
The Montreal Canadiens lead the series 2-1.
And the 21,000 fans at the Bell Centre are certainly not going to stop booing the Lightning star just because Jon Cooper says it motivates him.
If anything, it could be even louder tonight for Game 4.
We know the Montreal crowd.
The more you tell them not to boo, the louder they get.
Cooper may have been better off keeping that to himself.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
POLL
1 HOUR AGO|137 ANSWERS
Jon Cooper says Canadiens fans’ boos are fueling Nikita Kucherov at the Bell Centre
Should Canadiens fans continue booing Nikita Kucherov at the Bell Centre?