Pastrnak, the Bruins' leading scorer with 11 points in 12 games, played 14 minutes and 21 seconds across the first two periods, tallying seven shots, two giveaways, and a blocked shot. Despite his effort, he went without a goal for the third game in a row, which may have factored into Montgomery's choice.
This isn't the first time Montgomery has challenged Pastrnak. In last season's first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montgomery publicly urged Pastrnak to elevate his play after a quiet Game 6. The forward responded by scoring the overtime winner in Game 7 to secure the series for Boston showing he can bounce back under pressure.