Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery expressed concerns about his team’s urgency after their 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 2 of the playoffs. The Bruins failed to match the Maple Leafs’ intensity and struggled to sustain possession and generate scoring chances. Montgomery challenged his team to improve their performance in Game 3, which will be played in Toronto on Wednesday.
Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery defended his decision to start Linus Ullmark over Jeremy Swayman in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite Swayman’s impressive performance in Game 1. Ullmark stopped 30 shots, but the Bruins fell 3-2 to the Leafs, tying the series 1-1. Montgomery declined to name a starter before the game, keeping the Leafs guessing. He cited potential scouting advantages as the reason for his secrecy. While Swayman had been the logical choice for Game 1 due to his 3-0-0 record against Toronto in the regular season, Ullmark’s Vezina Trophy status and strong stats made it a difficult decision. Ullmark’s performance in Game 2 justified Montgomery’s choice, but the Bruins’ overall play fell short. Montgomery emphasized the need for improvement in their transition speed and forechecking intensity ahead of Game 3 in Toronto.
