Before the Boston Bruins played their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins last month, head coach Marco Sturm made a remark about being the more physical team. It was an odd remark, but it most likely intended to relieve some of the stress on his squad after seeing how the series played out.
The Bruins, a tremendous underdog, were unable to repeat their regular-season performance of grinding out four victories in the best-of-seven series against Buffalo. The Sabres’ skill was far greater than Boston’s in what became a six-game series, which Buffalo clinched last Friday night at the TD Garden with a 4-1 victory in Game 6.
Sturm’s remarks were heard in Western New York, and the Sabres downplayed it both at the time and throughout the series. Buffalo is set to play the Montreal Canadiens in the second round on Wednesday night at the KeyBank Center, five days after the regular season ended. During his news conference on Wednesday, head coach Lindy Ruff made a delicate jab at Sturm.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff takes a dig at Bruins coach Marco Sturm.
When engaging with the press, Ruff took a jab at the physicality heading into the series against Montreal.
“I have to be cautious while answering questions about larger, stronger teams,” Ruff told me.
No, Lindy, you do not. The fact that he said so indicates that the remark made by Sturm is living rent-free in the veteran coach’s mind. That can’t be good. That occurred in the final round. The Sabres and Ruff should be transferring to the Canadiens, not as Sturm suggested three weeks earlier.
Buffalo will confront a new squad in Montreal than the one they faced in Boston, one that is considerably more talented and will match the Sabres’ talent-for-talent. Whoever the more physical squad turns out to be is unknown. However, before facing Montreal, Ruff couldn’t help but dwell on the past.
