The performance of the Bruins’ goalies last season can be summed up in two words: extremely good. Despite the departure of Linus Ullmark to Kanata, Ontario, the Bruins had very few concerns about their goaltending.
Ullmark, while not quite matching his Vezina-winning form, remained reliable. It’s unrealistic to expect record-breaking seasons year after year, but both he and Jeremy Swayman provided a solid presence in net. Whether it was Ullmark or Swayman starting, fans could feel confident about their chances of winning.
This level of confidence in both members of a goalie tandem is rare in the league. Bruins fans have been spoiled by this reliability, though it’s likely to decrease slightly this coming season. Swayman will continue to share the workload rather than adopting the Winnipeg model of relying heavily on a single goaltender, such as Connor Hellebuyck.
Swayman will now split time with Joonas Korpisalo, who aims to rebound after a challenging period in Ottawa. But reflecting on the past season, both goalies were commendable.
Here are the regular season stats as a reminder:
- Jeremy Swayman: 43 starts, 25-10-8, .916 save percentage, 2.53 GAA, 3 shutouts
- Linus Ullmark: 39 starts, 22-10-7, .915 save percentage, 2.57 GAA, 2 shutouts
Swayman also took charge in the playoffs, starting 12 of 13 games and posting a 6-6-0 record with a .933 save percentage and a 2.15 GAA.
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