Bruins goaltending remains electric
After a heartbreaking end to a record-breaking season last year, the Boston Bruins are right back in business. Most of their success can be attributed to none other than Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark.
The goalie tandem stunned last season, with Ullmark being the best goalie in the NHL. The 2023 Vezina Trophy winner boasted an NHL-best goals-against average (1.89) and save percentage (.983). He also finished the season with a 40-6-1 record, tying with Alexandar Georgiev for the most wins. Swayman finished with a 24-6-4 record, a .920 save percentage and a 2.27 goals-against average. Ullmark and Swayman also received the William M. Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals allowed (177) during the 2022-23 season.
In 2023-24, the duo has picked up right where it left off. During the team's 6-0-0 start to the 2023-24 season, Ullmark (.962) and Swayman (.957) were ranked first and second in the league in save percentage. The B's also allowed only 1.16 goals per game and ranked second with a .957 5-on-5 save percentage.
Going into the All-Star break, the Bruins find themselves at the top of the Atlantic Division once again. They hold a 31-9-9 record and are tied with the Vancouver Canucks for the most points (71). Swayman has a 16-3-7 record and is tied for second with a .924 save percentage, while Ullmark holds a 15-6-2 record and a .915 save percentage.
"It's the singular reason why we have the record we have," Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told reporters. "It's because of our goaltenders."
Swayman has impressively outperformed Ullmark this season, but the duo still remains unstoppable.
Boston's goaltending ranks fourth in goals against per game (2.59), second in save percentage (.919) and third in wins (31). The B's remain the only team in the NHL with single-digit regulation losses (9).
With the way the team has been playing so far, it looks like fans will be seeing a lot more goalie hugs in the second half.
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