Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Stunning collapse in Game 6
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Ullmark turned aside 26 of 32 shots in Friday's 7-5 loss to the Panthers in Game 6 of the Bruins' first-round series.
Florida's final goal was scored into an empty net. The third period devolved into chaos, featuring seven of the game's 12 total goals, and Ullmark wound up conceding three tallies on only 10 shots as Boston squandered a chance to advance to the second round. After going wire-to-wire in the regular season as the best team in the league, the Bruins now face the prospect of being eliminated on home ice in Game 7 on Sunday. Ullmark has started all six games so far in the series, but he's posted a 3.80 GAA and .881 save percentage over the last five, so coach Jim Montgomery has to at least give some thought to turning to Jeremy Swayman for Game 7.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Starting Friday
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Ullmark will defend the road crease in Game 6 versus Florida on Friday, Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic reports.
Ullmark struggled Wednesday in Game 5, giving up four goals on 25 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss. Ullmark has started every game in the series and has allowed 14 goals on 146 shots. He has been ordinary against the Panthers after a splendid 2022-23 regular-season campaign where he went 40-6-1 with a sparkling 1.89 GAA and .938 save percentage.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Gives away Game 5
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Ullmark allowed four goals on 25 shots in a 4-3 overtime Game 5 loss to the Panthers on Wednesday.
Ullmark hasn't been outplayed often this season, but that was the case in this one. He had just 21 saves to Sergei Bobrovsky's 44, and Matthew Tkachuk's game-winner 6:05 into overtime came off an Ullmark turnover. Ullmark reversed the puck right onto the stick of Carter Verhaeghe, who found Tkachuk in front, and Florida's leading scorer lifted the puck into the net before Ullmark could scramble back into position. The Bruins have a capable backup in Jeremy Swayman, but the game-losing gaffe likely won't be enough to cost Ullmark his starting spot for Game 6, as the Bruins will try to close out the series again Friday in Florida.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: In goal for Game 5
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Ullmark will patrol the home crease during Wednesday's Game 5 versus Florida, Joe Haggerty of Boston Hockey Now reports.
Ullmark was excellent in Sunday's Game 4, turning aside 41 of 43 shots en route to an impressive 6-2 road victory over the Panthers. He'll try to help propel the Bruins to the second round of the playoffs by picking up a third straight victory, this time at home, against the same Florida team Wednesday.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Fired up in Game 4 win
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Ullmark stopped 41 of 43 shots Sunday before drawing a game misconduct late in the third period of a 6-2 win over the Panthers during Game 4 of the Bruins' first-round series.
Frustrations boiled over for Florida with just over three minutes left in the game, and Ullmark wound up removing his gloves in an attempt to throw down with Matthew Tkachuk after a cheap shot from the Panthers forward. Jeremy Swayman denied the only shot he saw after taking over in the Boston crease. As no actual fight occurred, it's unlikely Ullmark will face any league discipline, and he'll take a .926 postseason save percentage into Game 5 on Wednesday as the Bruins look to advance to the second round.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Guarding goal in Game 4
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Ullmark will guard the road net Sunday in Game 4 against Florida, Conor Ryan of Boston.com reports.
Ullmark is coming off a 29-save performance in Friday's 4-2 win over the Panthers. He has a 2-1 record this postseason, permitting just eight goals on 92 shots. Florida has registered 3.00 goals per game during the playoffs.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Tending twine Friday
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Ullmark (undisclosed) will start in Florida for Game 3 on Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Ullmark wasn't at practice Friday, but he'll still draw in as the starter. After a dominant Game 1 victory, he was tagged with five goals on 29 shots in Wednesday's Game 2 loss. He's won eight of his last 10 games dating back to March 18, posting a .939 save percentage during that span.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Weathers storm in Game 3 win
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Ullmark made 29 saves Friday in a 4-2 win over the Panthers in Game 3 of the Bruins' first-round series.
The Bruins grabbed a 4-0 lead midway through the third period and seemed firmly in control, but Ullmark came up big late as Florida tried desperately to mount a comeback and fired 19 shots at the Boston net in the final 20 minutes. If he starts Game 4, the Vezina Trophy favorite will take a 2.69 GAA and .913 save percentage so far in the playoffs Sunday when the Bruins look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Game-time decision Friday
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Ullmark (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision to back up Jeremy Swayman versus Florida in Game 3 on Friday, Conor Ryan of Boston.com reports.
Ullmark was not at practice Friday, as Brandon Bussi was the Bruins' second goaltender. Ullmark struggled Wednesday, giving up five goals on 29 shots in a 6-3 loss in Game 2 versus Florida. It was a rare off night for Ullmark, who is likely to win the Vezina Trophy this season, as he went 40-6-1 with a 1.89 GAA and .938 save percentage.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Can't stop Panthers
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Ullmark turned aside 24 of 29 shots in a 6-3 loss to Florida in Game 2 on Wednesday.
It was a rare off night for Ullmark. During the regular season, he allowed four or more goals in just two outings, and he finished the campaign with a 1.89 GAA and a .938 save percentage in 49 contests. Ullmark was also effective in Boston's playoff opener, stopping 31 of 32 shots en route to a 3-1 victory over the Panthers. He should start again Friday, giving him an opportunity to bounce right back.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Gets starting nod against Cats
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Ullmark will be between the home pipes versus Florida for Game 2 on Wednesday, Conor Ryan of Boston.com reports.
Ullmark made 31 saves in a winning effort over the Panthers in Game 1 and will be back in the crease for consecutive games for the first time since late February. While Jeremy Swayman performed well while sharing the crease, Ullmark figures to see the majority of the starts in the playoffs. Ullmark heads into Game 2 riding a five-game winning streak during which he's posted a 1.63 GAA and .946 save percentage.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Stops 31 in Game 1 victory
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Ullmark stopped 31 of 32 shots in Monday's 3-1 win over the Panthers.
Ullmark picked up where he left off in the regular season. The frontrunner for the Vezina finished the season with a 40-6-1 record and a league-leading .938 save percentage. Ullmark split goaltending duties with Jeremy Swayman for much of the season, so it'll be worth monitoring how Boston elects to utilize its goaltenders in the playoffs.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Guarding cage Monday
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Ullmark (illness) will get the starting nod for Game 1 against Florida on Monday, Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com reports.
Ullmark was considered a game-time call along with several other Bruins, but he'll be between the pipes to begin the postseason. He's been stellar all year, posting a 1.89 GAA and a .938 save percentage with a 40-6-1 record. The 29-year-old stopped 74 of 80 shots while winning both of his starts against the Panthers this season.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Game-time call
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Ullmark (illness) will be a game-time decision for Game 1 against Florida on Monday, WBZ Boston Sports reports.
A bug is going around the Bruins' locker room ahead of the team's playoff opener. Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, who took part in Boston's optional morning skate Monday, are both feeling under the weather. As a result, a starting goalie for Game 1 against the Panthers hasn't been decided yet. The Bruins recalled netminder Brandon Bussi from AHL Providence on Monday under emergency conditions.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Practicing Saturday
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Ullmark (undisclosed) is back at practice Saturday, Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic reports.
Ullmark left Tuesday's tilt versus Washington and did not travel with the Bruins to Montreal for Thursday's regular-season finale, but the Bruins were likely just being cautious with their star goaltender. Ullmark ended the season with a 40-6-1 record, to go with an eye-popping 1.89 GAA and .938 save percentage. He is the heavy favorite to win the Vezina Trophy this season and should start Monday in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs versus the Panthers.
Ullmark (undisclosed) will not be with the team for the season finale against the Canadiens on Thursday. Coach Jim Montgomery told reporters, "Linus is good today. But we're going to be precautionary with him," Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic reports.
The bench boss didn't specify whether Ullmark would be ready for Game 1 of the postseason, but it certainly seems to be trending in that direction. If the netminder isn't able to go, Jeremy Swayman would figure to step into the starting role. For his part, Ullmark should be a Vezina Trophy candidate after racking up 40 wins in 49 games along with a 1.89 GAA and .938 save percentage.
Ullmark left Tuesday's start with an undisclosed injury, Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic reports.
This is likely the Bruins being cautious, especially since Ullmark has dealt with a nagging lower-body injury recently. He stopped 18 of 20 shots and left with a 4-2 lead, replaced by Jeremy Swayman. With the Bruins already clinching home ice throughout the playoffs, they will likely rest Ullmark for Thursday's game in Montreal.
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Bruins' Linus Ullmark: Between pipes Tuesday
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Ullmark will tend the twine against the Capitals at home Tuesday, Joe Haggerty of Boston Hockey Now reports.
Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman have been pretty evenly dividing the workload since mid-February with Ullmark starting 15 of 29 contests. During that stretch, the Swede is 13-2-0 with a 1.85 GAA and a .941 save percentage. If the trend continues, Swayman will likely start the regular-season finale versus Montreal on Thursday. Having said that, it seems unlikely, though not impossible, that Boston will continue rotating goalies in the playoffs. As such, expect Ullmark to be the regular starter in the postseason.
