Bruins’ Jim Montgomery Gives Honest Assessment On Matthew Poitras

BOSTON — Last season, Matthew Poitras took the organization by storm by standing out in training camp and preseason, earning a spot on the Boston Bruins’ Opening Night roster.

Unfortunately for the rising prospect, his first season was cut short when he underwent right shoulder surgery on Feb. 7. He was sidelined for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs.

Poitras once again made the NHL club out of camp this season and has one goal and three assists while averaging 13:05 minutes across 10 games.

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery explained how Poitras has been able to drive the play for the Black and Gold.

“He’s a creative player,” Montgomery said before the team’s contest against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. “He comes up with a lot of pucks on one-on-one battles. That’s an area he’s vastly improved.”

Skating in his second professional season, Poitras has seen his fair share of physical play from opposing players. Montgomery said that it’s not just a product of other teams targeting the Bruins’ skill players.

“I think it’s his competitive spirit,” Montgomery explained. “He puts himself in some bad situations, which he needs to learn from those.

“But we just love how combative he is. He’s a competitive fighter. He’s a Bruin.”

While Poitras works out the kinks in his game, Montgomery gave an honest assessment of where the 20-year-old needs to improve.

“It’s not so much the workload, right? He’s got to earn it,” Montgomery said. “We’ve given him the opportunity to play higher up (in the lineup), and we’ve given him opportunity to play on the power play, and it’s not there.

“We really want him just to focus on simple things. Being really good five-on-five right now and helping us in that regard.”