BRIGHTON, MA – Linus Ullmark is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner and has been an NHL All-Star in his career with the Boston Bruins, so it would be understandable if he wasn’t happy about watching partner Jeremy Swayman take over the starter’s net during the first round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
After all, Ullmark performed solidly in Game 2 stopping 31-of-34 shots that he faced even as that was the only game that Boston lost in the series thus far. But it’s been obvious that Swayman has earned the honor of starting each game while posting a 1.34 goals against average and .956 save percentage while winning all three games that he’s played against the Leafs while building up a 6-0-0 record against them this season.
Ullmark also had the honors of playing the bulk of the playoff games in each of the previous two preseasons, so it’s only fair that he be the good, supportive tandem partner after Swayman served that role in each of the previous two springs.
"It’s been a lot of fun. We’re up 3-to-1 in the series…there's a reason I'm here today and it’s not to be a sulky, little crybaby because I'm not playing or anything like that,” said Ullmark, when asked his mindset while essentially serving as the B’s backup in this series. “I try to stay professional, supporting the guys throughout this period & work hard in practice trying to get better & push people in the way I can. Try to bring energy and do whatever I can when I’m off the side as I do when I’m in the net.
“You never take days off. You never know what happens. You always hope for the best & expect the worst kind of thing. You always have to stay vigilant and positive throughout the series as well. For me it's staying in the moment. Don’t think about what’s happened or what’s going to happen. That's the thing. Can't focus on what's going to happen.”
Jim Montgomery revealed up in Toronto that the B’s goaltending plan to start the playoffs was to give each goalie an alternating start at the beginning of the series, and them make decisions based on individual performance and the overall situation. Certainly, it’s been a no-brainer to go with Swayman given how well he’s performed while driving players like Max Domi to bump him during moments after the whistle.
Max Domi knocks into Jeremy Swayman during a commercial break.
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) April 25, 2024
Pat Maroon goes after Domi: pic.twitter.com/6SPhnJJ82u
"Normally, I don't think that [a goalie has a hold on an opposing team]," said Montgomery earlier this week after Game 3. "But when Domi goes off the bench and bumps [Swayman] on purpose, makes me think that maybe he's in their head a little bit."
All signs point toward the Bruins riding Swayman at least through this first round series given how good he’s been against the Leafs, but obviously Ullmark stands ready to jump back while not having played in any game action in a full week at this point.
STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
The Bruins are up 3-to-1 in the best-of-seven series over the Maple Leafs, but once again in Game 4 they were outshot by Toronto by a 26-22 margin as the Leafs continue to win the puck possession battle. In shot attempts it was actually a 69-45 advantage for the Maple Leafs, so that’s something that Montgomery is stressing headed into Game 5 with a chance to end the series while building their offensive game.
“Our O-zone time, defensemen being shot ready and forwards getting to the net and the hard areas,” said Montgomery, ticking off the things he’d like to see get better. “We have one inside the dots, but I don’t think we have two inside the dots enough. We’re too peripheral when we have possession in the offensive zone.”
It all makes sense as the biggest offensive weapon for the B’s during this series has been a power play that’s accounted for six goals in four playoff games against a dreadfully porous Toronto penalty kill.
ONE TIMERS
*Matt Poitras and Andrew Peeke skated on their own prior to Monday’s Bruins practice at Warrior Ice Arena, and Derek Forbort and Justin Brazeau have both become lineup options for Jim Montgomery at this point in the proceedings while coming back from injury. Brad Marchand and Danton Heinen both stayed off the ice and took maintenance days on Monday after the Bruins didn’t skate at all on Sunday following this weekend’s Game 4 win over the Maple Leafs.
*Auston Matthews was held out of Monday’s practice in Toronto after being pulled in the second period of the Game 4 loss up at the Scotiabank Arena.
*Mason Lohrei picked up his first Stanley Cup playoff point in Game 4 when his aggressive pinch on Ryan Reaves created a turnover that landed right to James van Riemsdyk in the slot for a giftwrapped first goal in the game. In general, Lohrei has been very good with an even plus/minus in 15:57 of ice time per game while holding his own defensively along with the offensive instincts he brings to the table as a talented rookie D-man.
“It’s a special time of year. I’m just trying to use the energy in the building and the nerves in the right direction to kind of motivate you,” said the 23-year-old Lohrei, who said he came to one of the home games against Florida last postseason as a fan while hoping that would be him in Black and Gold on the ice in the near future. “Sometimes during the game [Johnny Beecher and I] will be sitting next to each other on the bench and we’ll just say to ourselves, ‘Like, how cool is this?’