BOSTON – The hours leading up to the Boston Bruins’ game against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night had a different atmosphere for Joe Sacco.

The longtime Bruins assistant was named the team’s interim coach on Tuesday after Jim Montgomery was fired following a mediocre start to the season with twelve losses in twenty games.

“I normally go home between the morning skate and the game, but I stayed at the Boston practice facility,” Sacco said after the Bruins’ 1-0 win. “I was able to relax and collect my thoughts, but I also wanted to enjoy it. I knew it was the first one and I wanted to make sure we won it.”

The decision to turn to Sacco gives the Boston-area native another opportunity as a head coach. He managed the Colorado Avalanche from 2009 to 2013 and joined the Bruins coaching staff in 2014.

“Joe is very direct and very simplistic in the way he goes about explaining things. On a personal level, he may not get into the weeds, but he does care,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said. “He’s been here before. He has good relationships with the players. He has confidence in the players. Ultimately, change is difficult, but sometimes necessary. And Joe will have to adapt to that.”

Bruins captain Brad Marchand said after Thursday’s win, in which he had an assist, that it’s all about progress, despite the loss of a head coach in Montgomery who led the team to back-to-back 100-point seasons, including a record-setting debut, when the 65 wins and 135 points both were the most in NHL history.

“I still resent the situation that had to arise before we could respond in that way,” he said. “It was a good game tonight, but it’s only one game. We have to keep building and understand how important it is to give the same effort every day.

“It’s great for Joe to get his first win as coach of this team. Very happy for him. Great guy. Definitely a fun night.”

Despite the myriad of emotions overwhelming him during his first game as interim coach, Sacco made sure to secure the puck in Thursday’s win.

“The locker room had a good atmosphere. It was alive,” Sacco said. “It’s one game. We still have a long way to go.”