Bruins proving you can rotate two goalies in the playoffs

For years the thinking in hockey has been that teams have to settle on one goalie to play during the Stanley Cups Playoffs.

Even if you had two goalies capable of playing well in the playoffs, teams have leaned toward picking one. 

Well, along comes the Boston Bruins in 2022-23, who set NHL records with 65 wins and 135 points, while rotating goalies Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman. But when the playoffs began, the Bruins went with Ullmark, who would ultimately be named the winner of the Vezina Trophy. Ullmark started six games in the first-round series against the Florida Panthers. But the Panthers shockingly eliminated the record-setting Bruins in seven games.

Boston did not set any records during the 2023-24 season, but were one of the NHL's best teams as it continued to alternate Ullmark and Swayman.

The biggest question for coach Jim Montgomery was whether to continue the goalie rotation for the playoffs or to go with either Ullmark or Swayman, which had not worked out so well last season.

It was not known who Montgomery would start until warm-ups before Saturday night's opening game of the first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Swayman got the nod and was outstanding in the 5-1 win.

What about Game 2.

Once again, there was the traditional hockey point of view that you never change a winning lineup short of injury, particularly the goaltender, in addition to the "one goalie for the playoffs" thinking.

But there was also the Bruins 2023 playoff experience to consider.

Montgomery was grilled by reporters about who his Game 2 starter would be, but he never tipped his hand and even joked with the media about the subject.

Once again, before Monday night's Game 2, it was not until the warm-ups that the starter was known, as Ullmark took the starter reps.

Boston lost 3-2 and the Maple Leafs tied the series 1-1.

But it was not because of Ullmark. In fact he was probably the Bruins best player while making 31 saves.

So, apparently, two goalies CAN play well for a team during the playoffs, without an injury forcing the change.

Game 3 is Wednesday at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena at 7 p.m. ET.

Montgomery won't say so, but it's probably a pretty good bet that Swayman will be in goal for Boston.