Bruins coach ‘still contemplating’ Game 2 goalie

Much like Game 1, Jim Montgomery is keeping his goalie plans private.

The Boston Bruins coach told reporters after Sunday’s media availability that he’s “still contemplating what’s the right way to go” when it comes to the Game 2 starter against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night.

Montgomery went with Jeremy Swayman for Game 1 — his first-career Game 1 start — and he made 35 saves in Boston’s 5-1 win.

Swayman’s success against the Maple Leafs dates back to last season with five wins against the Bruins’ rival. Saturday’s win improved the goalie to 4-0-0 with a .962 save percentage with three regular-season wins and one playoff win in 2023-24.

The Bruins, though, have had a strong goalie tandem with Swayman and Linus Ullmark. Neither has played back-to-back games since February with Montgomery rotating the duo. After the Game 1 win, Montgomery admitted it was “going to be hard” to not play Swayman on Monday night.

“He played a terrific game,” Montgomery said. “But if we decide to go with Ullmark we’re comfortable with it and our team is comfortable with it. It doesn’t affect us in the room, whoever starts next game.”

Ullmark went 22-10-7 with a 2.58 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage this season.

The Maple Leafs had trouble beating Swayman on Saturday, with the only goal coming from their fourth line and Auston Matthews hitting the post on a wide-open net.

Whether it’s Swayman or Ullmark who leads the Bruins onto the TD Garden ice for Game 2, it’s clear Montgomery and the rest of the team will be confident with the decision.