The Bruins called up the veteran forward before Monday night’s game at TD Garden against the Blue Jackets hoping his energy and enthusiasm can spark the club out of its doldrums.
“We’re hopeful that that’s going to happen, right? That it’s going to bring more energy on our bench,” said Montgomery. “The energy from someone that comes in and has a smile on their face and it’s like Christmas morning? That’s infectious.”
Body language has a lot to do with it, said the coach.
“If you come back to the bench and you’re slumped over like that, what do you think it does to [your teammates]? What does it do to you? Your kid comes home, and he looks like the dog died, how does it make you feel? Right? You go, ‘Oh, what’s wrong?,’ ” said Montgomery. “Your kid comes home and he’s bouncing off the wall and he’s telling you about how he scored 8 points in his basketball [game] at recess. Yeah! Tell me about the four hoops. It’s infectious. That’s what we need.”
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Viel, who has two goals and four points in 14 games with Providence this season, has played in 49 NHL games, all with the Sharks, scoring three goals and five points along with 139 penalty minutes.
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That last stat is a window into Viel’s style of play. The Bruins need his effervescence but can’t afford to see him — or anyone else — spend extended time in the box.
“Yeah, I mean, that’s been my job pretty much my whole career is trying to walk that line,” said Viel. “Obviously I want to bring a lot of energy tonight. So, that’s what I’m going to try and do.”
A veteran of nearly 300 AHL games, Viel is well aware of the step up in competition.
“I know it’s a fast league, obviously, and the pace and the whole game’s a little bit different,” he said. “So, I’ve learned to just try to keep my game as simple as possible, and yeah, just play physical.”
A Montreal native, Viel grew up a Canadiens fan but revealed he always admired the Bruins because their style of play fit more with his identity.
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Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand were among the Bruins he watched closely.
“Obviously Bergy was a French guy. Obviously, he’s been here a long time. Marchy, [Zdeno] Chara,” said Viel, who fought Chara in 2022 when Big Z was with the Islanders. “Even Chris Kelly, I remember watching him and the way he worked and everything. So he was, in a sense, an inspiration for me for growing up and kind of learning the pro game.”
Andrew Peeke returns against former mates
Defenseman Andrew Peeke returned to the lineup after sitting out the last five with an upper-body injury suffered Nov. 5 in Toronto.
Peeke was facing the Blue Jackets, who drafted him 34th overall in 2016, for the first time. He spent parts of four seasons in Columbus before being traded to Boston in March.
“I keep in touch with those guys, they’re good buddies,” said Peeke.
Mark Kastelic unable to play
Mark Kastelic, who suffered a lower-body injury against the Blues on Saturday, missed his first game of the season. “We’re very hopeful for Thursday [against Utah],” said Montgomery . . . Fellow fourth liner Cole Koepke was a healthy scratch, as was defenseman Parker Wotherspoon . . . Tyler Johnson also returned to the lineup after the veteran winger missed the last two to tend a family matter . . . James van Riemsdyk entered the game with two goals and four points in a dozen games for the Blue Jackets . . . It was Military Appreciation Night at the Garden. Johnny Beecher, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic, Johnson, Max Jones, Kastelic, Koepke, Mason Lohrei, Charlie McAvoy, Peeke, and Jeremy Swayman donated tickets to the game for active military members and veterans. The Bruins recognized the husband and wife duo of Logistics Specialist Submarine Mekhi Jones and Hospital Corpsman Second Class Petty Officer Janique Jones as their Community All-Stars. Mekhi has served in the Navy for eight years, while Janique has dedicated five years of service. Both have earned multiple awards, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal . . . Song of the night: “The Star-Spangled Banner,” by Todd Angilly (hat tip: Francis Scott Key).
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Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him @globejimmcbride.