When Linus Ullmark led the crew out on the ice, all appeared proper with the Boston Bruins for his or her Game 1 sequence opener with the Florida Panthers.
Well, virtually alright. Patrice Bergeron, the B’s captain and emotional chief, was nonetheless lacking. But Ullmark, their fundamental man in objective, their Vezina Trophy candidate, was in a position to assume his spot between the pipes.
And there was actually loads of thriller and suspense surrounding whether or not he’d be within the web or not.
Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins knocks the pucks to the ice throughout warmups earlier than Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs in opposition to the Florida Panthers on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins celebrates after scoring the primary objective of a 3-1 victory over the Florida Panthers throughout Game 1 of their playoff sequence in Boston. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
The Boston Bruins have a good time David Pastrnak’s objective in the course of the first interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs in opposition to the Florida Panthers on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Connor Clifton #75 of the Boston Bruins checks Nick Cousins #21 of the Florida Panthers in the course of the first interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Givani Smith #54 of the Florida Panthers lifts Trent Frederic #11 of the Boston Bruins off his toes in the course of the first interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark blocks a shot in the course of the first interval of Monday’s playoff opener in opposition to the Florida Panthers. Ullmark was sharp in a 3-1 victory in Boston. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Alex Lyon #34 of the Florida Panthers retains Tyler Bertuzzi #59 of the Boston Bruins from scoring in the course of the first interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Linesman Travis Gawryletz #67 holds again Tomas Nosek #92 of the Boston Bruins as he grabs Aaron Ekblad #5 of the Florida Panthers head in the course of the first interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Linus Ullmark #35 of the Boston Bruins in the course of the National Anthem earlier than Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs in opposition to the Florida Panthers on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Hampus Lindholm #27 of the Boston Bruins shoves Radko Gudas #7 of the Florida Panthers in the course of the first interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery directs his crew in the course of the first interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs in opposition to the Florida Panthers on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Pavel Zacha #18, Tyler Bertuzzi #59 and Charlie McAvoy #73 of the Boston Bruins have a good time Jake DeBrusk’s objective in the course of the second interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs in opposition to the Florida Panthers on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Pavel Zacha #18 and Tyler Bertuzzi #59 of the Boston Bruins have a good time Jake DeBrusk’s objective in the course of the second interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs in opposition to the Florida Panthers on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Pavel Zacha #18, Tyler Bertuzzi #59 and Charlie McAvoy #73 of the Boston Bruins have a good time Jake DeBrusk’s objective in the course of the second interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs in opposition to the Florida Panthers on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Connor Clifton #75 of the Boston Bruins falls into Linus Ullmark #35 in the course of the second interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs in opposition to the Florida Panthers on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins celibates with Pavel Zacha #18 after scoring on Alex Lyon #34 of the Florida Panthers in the course of the second interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Pavel Zacha #18 and Jake DeBrusk #74 of the Boston Bruins have a good time Brad Marchand’s objective in the course of the second interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs in opposition to the Florida Panthers on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Pavel Zacha #18 and Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins go flying in entrance of the Florida Panthers objective in the course of the second interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Anthony Duclair #10 of the Florida Panthers clobbers Connor Clifton #75 of the Boston Bruins in the course of the second interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Gustav Forsling #42 of the Florida Panthers seems to be like he’s spearing Charlie Coyle #13 of the Boston Bruins in the course of the second interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins scores on Aaron Ekblad #5 and Alex Lyon #34 of the Florida Panthers in the course of the second interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Linus Ullmark #35 of the Boston Bruins blocks a shot in the course of the third interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs in opposition to the Florida Panthers on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Aaron Ekblad #5 of the Florida Panthers lambs into Garnet Hathaway #21 of the Boston Bruins in the course of the third interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Marc Staal #18 of the Florida Panthers falls into Linus Ullmark #35 objective as Dmitry Orlov #81 of the Boston Bruins seems to be on in the course of the third interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs in opposition to the Florida Panthers on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Linus Ullmark #35 of the Boston Bruins is honored after beating the Florida Panthers 3-1 throughout Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Taylor Hall #71 of the Boston Bruins will get checked by Radko Gudas #7 of the Florida Panthers in the course of the third interval of Round 1, Game 1 of the NHL playoffs on the TD Garden on Monday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 17, 2023
Last time Ullmark performed objective, he was pressured to depart the second-to-last common season sport within the third interval due to an undisclosed damage. Given how he badly struggled to stand up after shifting from one aspect of the publish to the opposite earlier than leaving, it appeared fairly grim. He didn’t journey with the crew to the regular-season finale.
So, sure, there was greater than just a little concern in regards to the Bruins’ netminder. Add on the very fact backup Jeremy Swayman missed observe Sunday with the sickness that had affected many on the crew, and nobody actually knew what to anticipate.
Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery additionally wouldn’t reveal the title of his starter Monday morning, suggesting Ullmark may be sick too, so there was greater than just a little angst.
Ullmark, nevertheless, wound up being the person.
How did he look? How effectively did he transfer?
Let’s simply say he regarded just like the goalie who was dominant all yr (40-6 report, 1.89 objectives in opposition to common) and performed a major position within the groups’ record-setting 65-win common season.
Basically, he was again to saving the crew’s bacon when wanted en path to a 3-1 victory within the opener. He backboned the win, making 31 saves, whereas assuring the B’s didn’t begin off on the fallacious foot with out Bergeron, who very effectively may very well be taking part in in his final postseason earlier than hanging it up.
“He’s been doing that all year long,” defenseman Charlie McAvoy mentioned of Ullmark. “We have nothing but faith and trust in him, and everybody on our team to show up and do the job.”
It marked Ullmark’s first playoff win in Black ‘n Gold. In the opening sequence in opposition to Carolina final yr, Ullmark misplaced the primary two video games earlier than giving technique to Swayman.
Asked the way it felt to get that first playoff win underneath his belt, Ullmark mentioned: “It’s nice. Now we gotta get 15 more.”
While Panthers goalie Alex Lyon made a number of extra saves of the spectacular selection, Ullmark additionally made his share of beauties, particularly within the first two durations. The Panthers outshot the B’s 15-8 within the first interval alone.
The Panthers had been particularly efficient with their relentless forecheck, retaining the Bruins pinned of their finish at occasions, however Ullmark stood tall.
One of his higher saves got here on a 2-on-1, as he made a terrific glove save on a backhand by Carter Verhaeghe. He additionally stoned Brandon Montour on a point-blank shot.
“We had a little rough stretch there,” mentioned Ullmark. “They’re a team that likes to feed off transitions and counters and stuff like that. You just gotta keep it simple.”
The lone objective the Panthers scored got here on an uncharacteristic giveaway by Dmitri Orlov in his personal finish within the second interval, permitting Matthew Tkachuk to stroll in, make a fast transfer and bury the puck previous Ullmark on a bang-bang play.
But the B’s nonetheless managed to flee win a win, with Game 2 on Wednesday.
Ullmark mentioned it wasn’t determined till the morning that he would play.
“I felt good. I felt terrific this morning,” he mentioned. “Once we (decided that), it was show time.”
It wasn’t the prettiest sport by Bruins requirements. The Panthers appeared to have extra leap early on, however ultimately, the B’s settled in and did what was wanted to return away with the win.
“We’ve always said this is what we were meant to do. This is the process we’re talking about. We’ve been building for this for a long time,” mentioned Ullmark. “To actually be ready for when the puck is dropped each interval, each sport. All of these 82 video games earlier than hand was simply us attempting to ramp it up. This is the second the place you’ve bought to construct your sport.
“You’re not going win the Stanley Cup with just one win. You’ve got to keep doing it over and over and over again.”
Ullmark was actually as much as the duty within the opener. So as he mentioned, it’s one down, 15 extra wins to go.
Bhagyashree Soni is a software engineer with soft writing skills. She is a degree holder from the International School of Entrepreneurial Leadership. She has been a state-level badminton champion and chess player. A woman with a forthright attitude enjoys her writing passion as her chosen career. Writing in the context of feminism, social cause and entrepreneurship is her forte.