Coach won't fret on bad losses; feels like turning page, trusting players good medicine to incorporate more consistency
ST. LOUIS – Jim Montgomery hasn’t been at a loss for words the past few days.
And it’s nothing controversial from the St. Louis Blues coach, it’s more of a light-hearted approach.
It all started on Thursday, two days after a tough 6-4 loss against the Minnesota Wild. Rather than focus on the negatives, Montgomery has been focusing on trusting the players to make the necessary adjustments to implement the right formulas but hold players accountable for making those adjustments.
He walked in and offered the following:
The Blues were true to Montgomery’s word and came out rocking, scoring four times in the first period, three before the Ducks even got a shot on goal.
On Saturday, it was a different tune:
So now it’s going to be jukebox heroes against the Blue Jackets on Saturday.
And don’t think the players don’t notice the coach’s attitude either.
“He’s just been positive and upbeat and he definitely puts you in the right frame of mind coming to the rink,” Blues captain Brayden Schenn said after a 6-2 win against the Ducks Thursday. “It’s a fun place to be right now. It’s fun playing for him. Guys are really enjoying it, embracing it. I think just coming to the rink each day, he’s personable with guys. At the same time, he’s demanding and guys really respect that.
“I just think guys are learning a lot. He communicates with his players. At the same time, he’s detailed, making adjustments all the time, he wants guys to play a certain way within the system, but at the same time, he lets guys play with their skill. He wants guys to play hard and he wants guys to compete in battles and he’ll kind of let you know when he’s not happy with it. I think that’s the best part about him. Guys respect it because the next day, he does come to the rink and ask you how you’re doing or he’s not avoiding you. Those are coaches you want to play for and we’re definitely enjoying learning from him.
“There’s attention to detail for sure. He is detailed. He threw a lot of information at us early and maybe it takes a little longer to grasp it. At the same time, when it’s positive energy and upbeat energy, we all know that’s what you want to be around, right? Guys are playing hard for one another, playing hard for the team right now. This is one win, but we have to use these next four games at home and grab some points.”
So instead of coming in after the Blues frittered away a game they needed to have – and should have had, leading 4-2 halfway through – Montgomery comes in, holds the accountability but does it in a respectful way, moves on and trust the players to make the necessary adjustments while holding a good attitude of his own.
“It’s just what you have to do as a professional,” Blues forward Jake Neighbours said. “You have to turn the page, both coaches and players, and I think ‘Monty’ does a great job of setting that standard. He leads the way in that asset in that if he’s turning the page, we better as well and move on and be ready to go. I think when a game like Minnesota happens, he comes in, says what needs to be said and when you wake up the next day, it’s a new day and you’ve got to reset. He’s done a great job of that.
“We feel good about this team and we feel we can make a run. So keeping a mindset of that and focusing on that every day when you come to the rink is very important no matter the result of the game the night before. No matter where we’re at in the standings, you’ve got to move on and continue to go game by game and try to go grab points. I think in this room, we feel good. The relationship between the coaches and the players is very good. Everybody’s on the same page and we’re feeling good about ourselves.”
Now, when Montgomery calls out you, the fans, well, that’s more a challenge than a calling out.
“The fans brought it (Thursday),” he said. “I thought they were here early. I still think they have, and I’ve seen it, more levels in them, so that’s excitement, but it’s up to us to put some wins together to get them more and more boisterous for us.”
