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Brad Marchand responds to tough love from Jim Montgomery.
 

Brad Marchand responds to tough love from Jim Montgomery.

The Boston Bruins head coach put his foot down on Monday, and the players now have their chance to respond.

Jonathan Larivee

The Boston Bruins have not gotten their week off to a good start.

After back to back losses against Eastern Conference opponents the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, the Bruins showed up to Monday's practice session looking less than sharp. That was enough to draw the ire of Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery who was heard cursing at his players as he drove them through grueling sprints on the ice.

It was tough love on the part of Jim Montgomery but it was tough love that he quite obviously feels his team needs to be hearing as they draw closer and closer to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Montgomery of course can only deliver the message and it is up to the players themselves to take that message on board and motivate themselves to bring their best each and every day they put on that uniform.

It's too early to tell if the message has been properly received by the locker room or not, but if the team's captain is any indicator of things it sounds like they received it loud and clear.

Brad Marchand had no objections to the treatment he received from Montgomery on Monday, even going so far as to suggest that it may very well have been deserved.

"You know it's one of those things," admitted Marchand. "Every day it's our job to be sharp and to be on the ball and we weren't today. It's a great reminder from Monty that expectations are high here. Completely warranted, especially with the games we have coming up."

Marchand would go even one step further, praising his coach for holding the team accountable when necessary.

"We need to be dialed in every day and we weren't for the start of practice," admitted Marchand. "So great job by him to notice that and keep us accountable and get us dialed in."

When asked if he feels the locker room received the message, Marchand replied in the affirmative.

"Yeah I think so," said Marchand.

For his full comments on today's practice, check out the short clip below: