Bruins’ Brad Marchand Defends Jim Montgomery After In-Game Spat

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery got rather chippy with his captain during Saturday’s overtime loss to the Utah Hockey Club.

Montgomery was extremely animated after Brad Marchand committed an ugly turnover that resulted in a breakaway goal for Utah that was later overturned by replay for being offsides. NESN’s cameras caught the interaction, with the coach leaning over to rip into his captain before making contact with his shoulder and walking away.

Marchand was asked about the interaction Thursday, and it doesn’t seem like there’s any lingering resentment.

“That’s a thing?” Marchand jokingly responded, per video provided by Conor Ryan of Boston.com. “I think people are very sensitive these days. It’s unfortunate how coaches are scrutinized over things like that. There’s a lack of accountability nowadays because people can’t handle the heat. You make a mistake like that, you deserve to hear about it.

“I’m glad that he said something about it, because if he didn’t we would have much bigger issues. The fact that it’s something we’re talking about is disappointing, but that’s the way things are.”

Marchand then stated he was glad he could take the heat, which he believed could send a positive message to the team that nobody should avoid criticism.

“There’s a level of accountability that needs to be held in this room, and nobody is absolved from that. I made a really bad mistake, in a really bad time of the game,” Marchand said. “It’s something that’s not acceptable, that I shouldn’t have done to begin with… I should be held accountable in that situation, and I’m glad he did it.”

The Bruins will return to TD Garden on Thursday and are scheduled to drop the puck with the Dallas Stars at 7 p.m. ET, following an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.