The Boston Bruins have dominated this season as they sit atop the Atlantic Division and the NHL with a 35-5-4 record and 74 points. A large part of their success has been the outstanding play of goaltender Linus Ullmark who, at 29 years old, is on pace for a career-high season.
The Swedish netminder has stayed hot all season long as he owns an absurd 24-2-1 record to go along with a 1.89 GAA and a .937 SV%. It has been an incredible season to date as he is the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy, but the question remains what keeps the Bruins’ number one goalie from getting complacent?
According to Scott McLaughlin of WEEI, one specific veteran’s ‘’tough love” has helped him reach his full potential.
When asked what keeps him from staying satisfied this season, Ullmarks’s answer was remarkable:
”I think Marchy [laughs]… No, seriously, we have a lot of guys in this team that have been around the league for a long time, and they know that you can’t get satisfied because there’s such small details that can make something crumble. He’s one of those guys, he’s always honest with me. If he feels like I’m taking a day off, he’s always right there up my ass and tells me to get going.”
During last night’s 4-1 win over the New York Islanders, Ullamrk notched his 100th career win. Like his veteran leaders on the team, Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, he was humble.
‘It has been overwhelming, I’m not gonna lie I have a lot of gratitude for all the boys in here that go to work every single night. Kudos to them.”
Ullmark understands that without his boys up front, his success wouldn’t be possible, as this year’s Bruins team has been a team effort. Ullamrk continues to pace all goaltenders in Wins, GAA, SV%, and GSAx. It has truly been a remarkable season for Ully as he prepares to continue his next-level play throughout the second half of the season and into the playoffs.
Stanley Cup Aspirations – Cue’ the Duck Boats Pod
