Claude Julien wasn’t quite as outspoken against embellishment on Monday as he was Sunday night, but the Bruins head coach stood by his stance that something needs to be done.
Julien ripped just about everyone involved Sunday night, speaking out about embellishing in the moment’s following his team’s 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins returned to practice Monday, and Julien spoke about it again.
“I didn’t question their character because they play hard, they’re a good team,” Julien said, according to the Bruins’ website. “The only thing I talked about was the embellishment. It wasn’t just directed at them, it was directed at what we’re trying to clean up in the league.
“I have a strong opinion on certain things, and I stick by it. We’re a professional league here. Basketball’s been through it and they’ve kind of cleaned that up, and I’m hoping we’re going to do the same thing with hockey.”
Julien admitted that while his team isn’t totally innocent themselves when it comes to embellishing on plays, it’s not something he wants to see his players doing.
“I’m not going to say one of our players will never embellish because that would be hypocritical, but I’m going to tell you right now that after it’s done he would hear from me that I don’t want embellishment on our hockey club,” he told reporters, according to the club’s website. “I know for a fact that a lot of coaches have talked about it, and we don’t like it. It’s important that we help the game progress by doing the right things.
“Our organization doesn’t want embellishment from our hockey club. If we keep the guys accountable with that, if they do it and we keep them accountable, then we’re helping clean up the game. I think everyone has to take that approach.”
Julien accused the Canadiens of diving on Sunday night, and he pointed to Montreal’s league-leading 100 power plays this season as proof of that. The Boston head coach also called P.K. Subban by name, accusing the Montreal defenseman of embellishing as well.
