Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery is toying with both fans and the media regarding who will be the team’s starting goalie in Game 2 of the team’s first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Bruins’ top two goalies are Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. Assuming that fans don’t count “y” as a vowel, that means both Swayman and Ullmark are in play, and Montgomery is not giving away any information ahead of Monday night’s contest.
Swayman got the nod in Boston’s 5-1 victory in Game 1 on Saturday night and recorded 35 saves.
The 25-year-old played in 44 of the team’s 82 games in the regular season, making 43 starts. Swayman went 25-10-8 and posted three shutouts, a 2.53 goals against average and a .916 save percentage.
Ullmark appeared in 40 regular-season contests (39 starts) and registered a 22-10-7 mark. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner had two shutouts with a 2.58 goals against average and a .915 save percentage.
Coming off an easy Game 1 win and with a day of rest between contests, conventional wisdom would mean that Swayman gets the start on Monday again.
Montgomery’s revelation (or lack thereof) on Monday morning followed his practice ahead of Game 1 when he chose not to tell media members who would be starting in the net.
This is Swayman’s and Ullmark’s third season together with the Bruins.
The latter led the NHL with a 1.89 goals against average last year before struggling in the playoffs and dealing with a “debilitating” injury. Ullmark played in the first six games of the Bruins’ shocking first-round upset loss to the Florida Panthers but allowed six goals during the team’s 7-5 defeat in Game 6.
Swayman took over and played the entirety of Game 7 in place of Ullmark, a contest that the Bruins lost 4-3 in overtime.
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