Linus Ullmark played well in Game 2 against the Maple Leafs. He was not anywhere close to bad enough to play his way out of a rotation. The Bruins lost, but he was not the reason why.
Jeremy Swayman, however, has been better, and just keeps winning. In fact, he’s been better than every other goalie in the league in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Bruins have won all three of his starts in this series, and he is now 6-0-0 against Toronto this season with a .957 save percentage.
At least for the time being, the goalie rotation is over. Swayman has started the last two games. Boston coach Jim Montgomery is not naming his Game 5 starter, but it would be a major surprise if it’s not Swayman.
Ullmark is not sulking.
“It’s been a lot of fun. We're up 3-1 in the series,” Ullmark said Monday when asked what it’s been like watching Swayman get consecutive starts.
“There's a reason why I'm here today, and it's not being a salty, little crybaby about not playing or anything like that,” he added. “You know, just trying to stay professional, supporting the guys throughout the period here. Go out there every practice trying to be better, try to push people in the way that I can, obviously, and try to bring that energy and try to do whatever I can when I'm off the side as much as I try to do when I'm into it.”
Swayman being the clear No. 1 right now does not guarantee that will remain the case the rest of the playoffs. One or two off nights could re-open the door for Ullmark. He knows he needs to be ready to go if or when that happens.
“I can’t take days off,” Ullmark said. “You never know what happens. Hope for the best, expect the worst kind of thing. You always have to be vigilant and stay positive throughout the series as well. For me, it’s staying in the moment. Don’t think about what happens, what’s going to happen or anything like that.”
Montgomery told reporters on Saturday that his plan going into the playoffs was to split goalies for the first two games, and then go from there. Ullmark said the communication between Montgomery, goalie coach Bob Essensa and the two goalies has been good, and that there really isn’t a plan from here beyond day-to-day evaluations.
“It's been good,” Ullmark said of the communication. “I don't think there really is a plan. Just take it day-by-day. Sway’s been playing tremendously. I have a lot of faith in that fella, and I’m very happy for him obviously. And that's what I try and do as well: stay positive and supportive of him, because if I don't support my guy, I'm not supporting the team.”
Brazeau, Forbort are options for Game 5
Justin Brazeau and Derek Forbort both practiced in full on Monday, and Montgomery said afterwards that they are both possibilities to play in Game 5.
“Forbort and Brazeau are options,” Montgomery said. “We’ll see tomorrow night if they’re in the lineup or not. There are steps left to be made, but they’re close.”
Forbort has been out since March 2 after undergoing a pair of surgeries to address two separate injuries. Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said then that the veteran defenseman would likely miss the rest of the season, but his recovery has gone better than expected.
Brazeau has been out since April 2 with a wrist injury. Montgomery had said that the Bruins were hopeful the big winger might be an option later in this series, but that the second round was more likely. It seems Boston will not have to wait that long, though.
In Monday’s practice, Forbort lined up on the third defense pairing with Parker Wotherspoon, ahead of both Kevin Shattenkirk and Matt Grzelcyk. Brazeau skated on the fourth line with Pat Maroon and Jesper Boqvist, while fellow fourth-line options Johnny Beecher and Jakub Lauko were shifted elsewhere in the lineup to fill the spots usually occupied by Brad Marchand and Danton Heinen, both of whom took maintenance days.
That would suggest that Brazeau and Forbort may in fact both be in for Game 5, but Tuesday’s morning skate will be more telling in that regard. Montgomery acknowledged some “trepidation” about reinserting Forbort after so much time off.
“As long as that word is, that’s as much trepidation as there is. Yes,” Montgomery said.
Brazeau, meanwhile, certainly sounded like someone who anticipates getting in sooner rather than later when he met with reporters in the locker room.
“I’m obviously really excited,” he said. “It’s something I’ve worked my entire life for, so I can’t wait to get in there.”
Part of the equation for Montgomery will be deciding whether he wants to change the lineup that just won two games in a row in Toronto. If Monday’s lines hold, it would appear to be Beecher and Shattenkirk drawing out. Those aren’t exactly dramatic make-or-break moves, but there is also something to be said for leaving a winning lineup alone.
Peeke, Poitras spotted on ice
Defenseman Andrew Peeke and center Matt Poitras were out skating on their own at Warrior Ice Arena before Monday’s practice.
Peeke took a shot off his hand in Game 2 last week and was deemed “week-to-week.” He was gripping his stick Monday and handling the puck, so that is certainly an encouraging sign. The next step will be getting back into regular practice with the rest of the team.
Poitras, meanwhile, underwent shoulder surgery on Feb. 7. Doctors gave the rookie a five-month recovery time, so unless something has dramatically changed, he is still not expected to be an option at any point this postseason. It is nonetheless encouraging just to see him on the ice; this was the first time we in the media had seen him skating since surgery.
Montgomery unhappy with start of practice
Just a few minutes into Monday’s practice, Montgomery started yelling at his team to pick up the pace.
“You had a day off yesterday, not today,” he was heard saying at one point.
Asked afterwards if he wasn’t happy, Montgomery said, “That’s an understatement.”
Things did get better from there, though.
“They did improve,” Montgomery said. “That's why the first three drills were about getting puck touches and pace and getting sweat. After a day off, it's usually sloppy the first 10 minutes, and that's why I pulled the team in and we talked about these last three drills are about compete. We need to pick up our pace to get ready for tomorrow night, because your pace just doesn't happen with a switch. Today's practice was really important to start tomorrow.”
Montgomery also emphasized getting off to a fast start on Sunday as the Bruins aim to close out a Maple Leafs team that will be playing with all the desperation in the world as they try to keep their season alive. Last year, in the same situation against the Panthers, the Bruins fell behind 8:26 into Game 5 and never held a lead.