Who Should Be the Bruins Starter for the Playoffs?
PUBLICATION
Dorin Canaday
March 27, 2023 (0:35)
In the NHL, the Bruins boast the top goaltending pair, and even with Ullmark's Vezina-worthy season, is it possible for Swayman to compete for the starting position?
Throughout this season, Linus Ullmark has been a reliable force for Boston and, as previously noted, leads the race for the Vezina Trophy. Jeremy Swayman encountered early criticism due to a slow beginning, but his recent impressive performance has placed him alongside his teammate at the league's pinnacle.
Is Swayman a Contender for the Starting Role in the Playoffs?
In a recent episode of
Bruins Beat, Conor Ryan from
Boston.com and Evan Marinofsky from the
New England Hockey Journal explored this subject. Ryan elaborates on how the starting role is unmistakably Ullmark's to lose:
Must read on Bruins Latest
Since January 1st, Swayman (1.88 GAA, .936 SV%) and Ullmark (1.95 GAA, .936 SV%) rank second and third in the entire NHL for those statistics. They trail only Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild, who boasts a 1.78 GAA and a .941 SV%. (Swayman leads all goalies with four shutouts during this period).
While the conventional hockey wisdom suggests that teams rely on a single goaltender during the postseason, the Bruins present a strong argument for alternating between both players.
Boston Globe's Matt Porter recently reported that Jim Montgomery would not completely dismiss the idea:
''Montgomery said they don't have an issue with a playoff goalie rotation, though it's not something they're thinking about yet. Ullmark will start Game 1.''
Limited Experience Between the Pipes
Ty Anderson from 98.5 The Sports Hub recently discussed with Mike Felger on NBC that the primary worry for Boston's goaltenders is their limited playoff experience.
''Neither one of them has shouldered a workload, you know, beyond the first round. Linus has played two career playoff games. Jeremy Swayman's played five. This is the thing they have to figure out between now and come May or June.''
Explore further details from Anderson's discussion in the video below. The journalist recounts a fascinating anecdote about what Buffalo locals cautioned him about Ullmark upon his initial signing with Boston.
The recent performance of both players presents a "positive" dilemma for the Bruins. Regardless of Montgomery's choice, either option will provide the team with an opportunity to succeed.
Previously on Bruins Latest
POLL |
27 MARS | 201 ANSWERS Who Should Be the Bruins Starter for the Playoffs? Who would you start game one of the playoffs? |
Jeremy Swayman | 18 | 9 % |
Linus Ullmark | 183 | 91 % |
LIST OF POLLS |
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