In hockey circles, the conventional wisdom has long been that teams should stick with one goalie throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs, even if they have multiple capable netminders.
However, the 2022-23 Boston Bruins challenged this notion by setting NHL records with 65 wins and 135 points while rotating goalies Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman.
When the playoffs arrived, Ullmark was chosen as the starter and went on to win the Vezina Trophy, playing in six games of the first-round series against the Florida Panthers. Despite this, the Panthers managed to eliminate the record-setting Bruins in seven games.
The following season, Boston continued to alternate Ullmark and Swayman, prompting speculation about their playoff goaltending strategy. Coach Jim Montgomery faced the dilemma of whether to stick with the rotation or opt for a single starter, considering the previous season’s outcome.
Heading into Game 1 of the first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Swayman was chosen as the starter and delivered an outstanding performance in the 5-1 victory. However, for Game 2, Ullmark was given the nod and performed admirably, making 31 saves despite the Bruins losing 3-2 and the series tying at 1-1.
The results of these games have demonstrated that both goalies can excel in the playoffs without injury necessitating a change. As Game 3 approaches on Wednesday at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, the decision on the starting goalie remains uncertain, but signs point to Swayman taking the crease for Boston, although Montgomery has not officially confirmed this.
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