In his first season as Boston coach in 2022-23, Montgomery led the team to a historic season, with the best single-season record in League history (65-12-5). The Bruins earned 135 points and an .823 points percentage, also NHL bests. Montgomery won the Jack Adams Award that season as the League’s top coach.
But the Bruins lost in seven games in the 2023 Eastern Conference First Round to the Florida Panthers, who went on to the Stanley Cup Final. They held a 3-0 series lead on the Toronto Maple Leafs the following season, then lost the next three games before prevailing in Game 7.
Boston lost to the eventual champion Panthers in the second round in six games.
Montgomery has also been coach of the Dallas Stars, serving the 2018-19 season and part of 2019-20, going 60-43-10 in 114 games. His NHL career record is 180-84-33 in 297 games.
Montgomery is the first NHL coach to be fired this season.
Sacco is in his 11th season in the Bruins organization since being hired as assistant coach July 24, 2014. The 55-year-old was Colorado Avalanche coach from 2009-2013 and went 130-134-40. He was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for the 2009-10 season, his first with Colorado, after it finished 43-30-9.
Sacco worked one season as an assistant for the Buffalo Sabres in 2013-14 before leaving to join the Bruins.
“On behalf of the Boston Bruins, we thank Jim Montgomery for his accomplishments and impact on our organization,” team president Cam Neely said. “Jim’s open and honest communication with players, staff and management, as well as the positive attitude that he brought to the rink every day, helped lead our franchise to several on-ice accolades, including a historic 65-win season in 2022-23. We wish Jim and his family the best moving forward both personally and professionally.
“I’m supportive of Don’s decision to address our current play and performance. Joe Sacco has a wealth of experience and knowledge of our roster and can help lead our team in the right direction. He has a strong understanding of our standards and expectations, and I trust he will do all he can to accomplish our organization’s goals this season.”
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
