Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak reunite as Bruins linemates

“Yeah, I'm obviously struggling offensively, so I think this is a good change,” Pastrnak said before the Bruins' 4-0 loss. “Hopefully it works out and I'm looking forward to being with Marcy again. Obviously the chemistry is there, so I’m excited.”

Although Pastrnak entered the game leading the league in goals with four, he said he didn't like the start to the season.

“Honestly, not much,” he said when asked what he liked in a half-dozen games. “I haven't felt great so far, but I know it's still early in the season and I'm just focused on getting better every day and it's still very early. I’d rather fight now than later, so I don’t mind, I face it and use it as motivation to work extra hard and the confidence and good feelings will come.”

Pastrnak said he was encouraged by the goal total but acknowledged that stats don't always tell the whole story.

“Of course the goals are a positive thing, but I've said many times that you can play great hockey, you feel great and then the goals don't come and I played bad hockey and the goals came, so hopefully the goals can fall further and I can play better,” he said.

The Marchand-Pastrnak reunion was part of a larger top-9 rise by Montgomery.

“I try to create a certain chemistry,” said the coach. “I mean, it's been inconsistent in our first six games, so we're just looking for other ways to support certain players and get other players going. And you just hope that those line combinations will create more offense and more success for us.”

The other jumbled lines had Charlie Coyle in the middle with wingers Trent Frederic and Max Jones; Matt Poitras in the middle with Pavel Zacha And Morgan Geekie.

The trio of Mark Kastelic with wingers Johnny Beecher And Cole Koepke remained intact.

Montgomery, who wasn't happy with his team's practice on Sunday, experienced a surge of energy during Tuesday's morning skate after having an off day on Monday.

“I thought the guys were in good shape mentally and I thought they were excited to be back on the ice, which is always a great sign,” he said.

Montgomery is looking to transfer energy to the game.

“I want us to put more pressure on the pucks. I mean, when we're at our best, we cause turnovers in all three zones. And in the last game we did it in a D zone. We didn’t do that in the other two zones,” he said. “So we just have to skate. Be prepared to skate and work a little harder.”

Jones leads the way

Jones had a difficult start to his tenure in Boston, as a groin injury he sustained early in training camp prevented him from securing a starting spot in the lineup.

Over the last week. Jones has hit form and shown his pace as he looks to make a bigger impact.

“He is an elite skater in this league and that was very evident this morning,” Montgomery said. “I think it’s just because he’s familiarized himself with the way we play and knows when it’s time to go and when it’s time to look up.”

Jones was looking forward to playing with Frederic and Coyle.

“Freddy plays a tough game and I love that. “Chip puts pucks in, gets pucks back and plays that tough style,” Jones said. “It's a boost for your own team and the guys on the bench and those who go to the net. It causes a lot of chaos, a lot of fear and can influence the game in one direction or another.

“And then Cs (Coyle) is obviously all about puck possession. He's a great skater and likes to hold onto the puck and see the ice. So it should be nice for me and Freddy to open up and get pucks and bring them to him.”

Trio takes a seat

Forward Justin Brazeau And Riley Tufte and defenders Parker Wotherpsoon were healthy scratches… The Predators' 0-5-0 start was their worst in franchise history. Jones said the Bruins knew they were facing a desperate team. “We just have to be prepared, whether it's going out there, playing a little bit easier to start the game, seeing what opens up for us in the second or third period, or whether it's about overwhelming them, to try and support them, slow them down, take the crowd out of the game and stuff like that,” he said. “You definitely need to know what situation you're going into, and we know.”… The game was the NHL debut for the Nashville forward Zachary L'Heureuxthe franchise's first-round pick in 2021. L'Heureux is a determined agitator who, despite being from Montreal, says he models his game after Marchand. “Growing up and watching him play, he was definitely a guy I looked up to, but at this point I'm trying to make my own career, carve my own path and create my own type of hockey player,” said he. “Of course we have some things in common, but I think I'm my own player and it will be exciting to be on equal terms with him.” … Song of the evening: “Wooly Bully” by Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs (Watch now, watch !).

Jim McBride can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @globejimmcbride.