Jim Montgomery, head coach of the Boston Bruins, has publicly criticized the NHL's playoff scheduling, suggesting it unfairly benefits the Toronto Maple Leafs. Speaking before Game 3 in Toronto, Montgomery highlighted the unusual break between Games 3 and 4, which he feels advantages the Leafs.
Montgomery expressed his preference for a different schedule: "I would have rather been here Thursday/Saturday, if I'm being honest. I think we're spending more time in Toronto than Toronto's spending in Boston and we're the home team."
The core of the issue lies not only in the prime time game but also in the length of stay in Toronto�almost double the time spent in Boston for the series' first two games. This break pattern is atypical for NHL playoffs, where two-day gaps usually facilitate travel between host cities rather than extend stays when games are in the same city.
The perceived scheduling bias has placed the Maple Leafs at the center of controversy, fueling debates among fans and sports analysts over whether the NHL is showing a clear-cut preference to its largest market.
