Why Bruins making Linus Ullmark Game 1 starter in playoffs is right move

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Veteran goalie Linus Ullmark played fantastic over the last two months of the NHL regular season and will deservedly start in net when the Boston Bruins begin their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy announced the decision after Sunday's practice. Game 1 is scheduled for Monday night at PNC Arena in Raleigh.

"You want to be playing your best hockey as the playoffs near, and I think you could certainly say he is," Cassidy said of Ullmark.

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The choice to go with Ullmark over rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman is the correct one. It's also not a surprise.

Ullmark outplayed Swayman since March 1 by a fairly wide margin and earned his role to begin the playoffs.

Ullmark ranked No. 2 among all goalies in April with a .950 save percentage in seven games played. His 1.41 GAA was No. 1 and he ranked No. 3 with 8.66 goals saved above average (GSAA), per Natural Stat Trick. But the most impressive Ullmark stat from April was his insanely good .951 save percentage on high-danger chances -- far above Oilers netminder Mike Smith at .889 in second place.

Not only has Ullmark posted impressive stats over the last two months or so, he's played against and beaten a few top-tier opponents.

  • April 26: 2 GA, 19 SV in win vs. Panthers
  • April 23: 1 GA, 30 SV in win vs. Rangers
  • April 8: 1 GA, 28 SV in win at Lightning

Playoff experience is not a strength for Ullmark nor Swayman. Ullmark has actually never made a postseason appearance and Swayman has never made a playoff start. Swayman played 18:34 in one playoff game last year in place of Tuukka Rask.

Swayman's decline in performance toward the end of the regular season was not a huge surprise. He might have hit some sort of a rookie wall. Swayman played in 41 games during the regular season -- six more than his previous career high of 35 with the University of Maine during the 2018-19 campaign. This is the first time in his pro career he's dealt with this kind of workload. He's also never played into May at the college or pro levels.

Complete schedule for Bruins vs. Hurricanes first-round playoff series

Ullmark getting the starting job to begin Round 1 doesn't mean Swayman won't get his shot. Injury or lackluster performances from Ullmark could result in Cassidy turning to Swayman. If you look at the entire regular season, the difference between these two goalies was not large at all.

  • GP: Ullmark 41, Swayman 41
  • SV%: Ullmark .917, Swayman .914
  • Saves: Ullmark 1045, Swayman 1015
  • GAA: Swayman 2.41, Ullmark 2.45

Ullmark was better down the stretch, though, and it makes sense for Cassidy to ride the hot goalie entering the playoffs, especially when that player has more experience than the other guy.

Luckily for the Bruins, they have a talented and competent backup goalie who can step in and play at a high level if needed. It's good to have depth at the sport's most important position, especially in May and June.

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