Felger: Bruins playoff goalie rotation idea is “preposterous”
Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery joined Toucher and Hardy on Thursday morning to discuss all things with his team. While on, Montgomery was asked about a possible goaltender platoon in the playoffs and he mentioned how it’s something the Bruins may do should they get there. On Friday’s Felger and Mazz, Felger gave his thoughts on this “preposterous” idea.
Felger’s thoughts on a playoff platoon….
Felger: Jim Montgomery was with Toucher and Hardy yesterday, his most declarative statement I’ve heard yet that they’re going to go forward with the goalie platoon in the postseason. Which again, I find preposterous. I find it absurd. It’s not done. There’s a reason it’s not done. But saying that….Let’s go. I’m all for it. Now I want to see it. Let’s do it. Do that thing. And to this point, Maz, I’ve given you the most obvious example of why not to do it. And I do it for effect…We’re going every other night. A straight platoon. Okay. Jeremy Swayman goes into Montreal, pitches a shutout in game 6 and now your home game 7 in the Eastern Conference final with a chance to go to the Stanley Cup Final, Swayman is hot, pitches a shutout in Montreal in game 6 and now you come home for game 7 and you sit him for Linus Ullmark. Okay, that’s me being a little bit of a wise ass, because I know they probably wouldn’t do that. Mhm. Okay. I say that for effect. The real problem is everything in between. For example… Jeremy Swayman goes in Montreal in game 6, leading 3-2 in the seires and stands on his head, but loses 3-2 in the game. Gives up a goal late in the third. That’s okay. He stops 38 of 41 shots. But the 41st not so hot. Kind of a tweener, but otherwise was immense. But they lose. Who do you go to in game seven? I mean, it’s great for us, but it’s it’s just a nonsense way to run a hockey team. Nonsense. But let’s do it. Now I’m into it. I’m all for it. Let’s go with this harebrained idea.
Listen to Felger and Mazz from 2-6 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Mike Felger, Tony “Mazz” Massarotti, and Jim Murray “Big Jim”. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @FelgerAndMazz on Twitter to keep up with the show!
Bruins superstar David Pastrnak earns first honor of 2024
Pastrnak’s latest honor was a mere inevitability, as his 23 goals rank sixth in the NHL, while his 53 points are tied with the Oilers’ Connor McDavid and New York’s Artemi Panarin for the third-most in the NHL near the halfway mark of the year.
(Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov are atop the point leaderboards this season, with 64 points each, in case you were curious how the Hart Trophy race is shaping up thus far.)
Pastrnak has also been the face of the Black and Gold’s offensive push, too, with team-highs in goals (23), points (53), even-strength goals (16), even-strength points (31), power-play goals (7), power-play points (22), and points per game (1.43).
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 28: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins celebrates after scoring a penalty shot against the Red Wings during the third period at TD Garden. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Pastrnak is also the unofficial leader in cool-ass goals, particularly when it comes to penalty shots, with some straight-up wizardry with the puck on his blade.
David Pastrnak scores another penalty shot goal.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 29, 2023
3-1 Bruins. pic.twitter.com/lsiNrlQ1lb
Oct 14, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) celebrates with fans after scoring on a penalty shot against the Predators during the second period at TD Garden. (Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY Sports)
This will be Pastrnak’s second straight All-Star Game appearance, and the fourth of his career.
Pastrnak was honored as the All-Star Game MVP in 2020, and later donated the car he won as the game’s MVP to a Boston nurse on the frontlines of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s also worth wondering if Pastrnak will be joined by another Bruin at this year’s All-Star Game.
If there’s another Bruin worth consideration, it’s definitely goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Even after Thursday’s tough, six-goal outing against the Penguins, Swayman still boasts a .922 save percentage (second-best in the NHL) and 2.43 goals against average (fifth-best in the NHL), and has without a doubt been one of the best goalies in the league this season.
Feb 4, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Atlantic Division forward David Pastrnak (88) of the Boston Bruins reacts after scoring a goal against the Central Division during the 2023 NHL All-Star Game. (Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports)
Out of the gate, Pastrnak will be joined by Toronto’s Auston Matthews, Florida’s Sam Reinhart, Detroit’s Alex DeBrincat, the Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki, Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk, Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, and Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin as Atlantic Division reps.
But the divisions will not mean much this year, as the year will go back to the player draft style of picking teams.
