Bruins coach Jim Montgomery hoped Jeffrey Viel would be excited to be back in the NHL and that the excitement would carry over to the rest of the lineup.

Montgomery has been frustrated with his team’s inconsistent energy level lately leading up to Monday’s game against Columbus at TD Garden.

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“He is a man where you know what you get. He is a difficult player to play against,” Montgomery said. “He has an attacking ball in and around the net. He has really good energy. He’s excited to play the game. … The energy of someone walking in and having a smile on their face and it’s like Christmas morning, it’s contagious. … That’s what we need.”

Viel scored 17 goals in 69 games for the AHL Manitoba Moose last year. His initial reaction boded well for Montgomery’s hopes for excitement.

“It’s always a great feeling. That’s where everyone wants to be. Everyone worked for that. So super happy,” said Viel, who has played in 49 career NHL games before this season, all for the San Jose Sharks.

The 6-foot-2, 213-pound Quebec native has been a physical player wherever he has played and has a long history of willingness to fight and skill in doing so.

“That has been my job throughout my career, to try to follow that line. I want to bring a lot of energy tonight. That’s what I’m going to try to do,” he said. “I’m going to try to keep my game as simple as possible and just play physically.”

He will skate on the fourth line with Tyler Johnson and Johnny Beecher.