Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 12: Linus Ullmark #35 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Seattle Kraken during the second period at TD Garden on January 12, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery tried to tell everyone again and again that Linus Ullmark, who left Game 81 with an apparent lower-body injury, was fine.

Montgomery said it multiple times. Both after the game against Washington and the next day at practice, and even when the team traveled to Montreal for their season finale. Same with the term “precautionary.”

But in the event that words don’t do the trick when it came to settling nerves ahead of Monday’s playoffs-opening clash at TD Garden, Saturday came with our strongest confirmation yet, as Ullmark was one of the first skaters on the ice and made it through the entirety of the team’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena.

  • “We don’t have any issues with [Ullmark],” Montgomery said Saturday when asked about Ullmark’s status. “He was out there in practice and I thought he performed well.”

    For what it’s worth, Ullmark did not appear limited physically, and participated in every drill, and all of the scrimmage the Bruins went through in the second half of their practice. There didn’t seem to be any noticeable laboring on any of his movements. Nor did he vacate his crease for a chat with the training staff at any point.

  • Nov 17, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) makes a save against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports

    Nov 17, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) makes a save against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at TD Garden. (Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports)

  • Boston’s ace in goal, the 6-foot-5 Ullmark is coming off a regular season that saw him capture the ‘Triple Crown’ in net, as he led the league in wins (40), save percentage (.938), and goals against average (1.89).

    That run made him the league’s first ‘Triple Crown’ winning netminder since the Canadiens’ Carey Price in 2015, who captured the Hart Trophy and the Vezina Trophy when he accomplished the feat.

    Ullmark, along with Jeremy Swayman, already captured the 2022-23 Jennings Trophy as the stingiest tandem in the league, with just 174 goals allowed this season. That was a 36-goal advantage over the next closest team (the Hurricanes, with 210 goals allowed this season).

  • Mar 21, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) makes a save in front of Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) during the second period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

    Mar 21, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) makes a save in front of Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) during the second period at TD Garden. (Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports)

  • Whether it’s gamesmanship or making sure every box is checked, Montgomery opted not to outright name Ullmark as the starter for Monday’s Game 1 at TD Garden. (For what it’s worth, he did do that a few weeks back.)

    Now, that’s not exactly gigantic news (sorry, Mike), as Montgomery was often naming starting goalies — at least to the media — on the day of games when the Bruins were in the teeth of their regular-season schedule.

    But given what we saw on Saturday, it would be a shock if Ullmark did not get the call on Monday night.

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