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Boston Bruins take Game 1 vs Panthers: Ullmark superb in first playoff win

By Zachary McMahon

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 17: Linus Ullmark #35 of the Boston Bruins makes a save against the Florida Panthers during the second period of Game One of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins won 3-1. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 17: Linus Ullmark #35 of the Boston Bruins makes a save against the Florida Panthers during the second period of Game One of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins won 3-1. (Photo by Rich Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Bruins started their potential Stanley Cup run with the win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden.

This is the next chapter of the Bruins magical season which broke all kinds of wins records. However, there was an illness going around with the Bruins where Linus Ullmark, Jeremy Swayman and Patrice Bergeron all were game-time decisions with illness. In response the Bruins recalled Brandon Bussi from Providence to be an emergency goalie. However, Ullmark started and Swayman was active as his backup and Bergeron was inactive.

David Krejci, Nick Foligno and Derek Forbort all returned from injuries that sidelined them from the rest of the regular season. Tomas Nosek was made active by the Bergeron absence and was the center of the 4th line.

The Boston Bruins have been 2-1-1 against the Panthers during the regular season with the last matchup being an Overtime loss on January 28th. This series will be a series of the last two President’s Trophy winners as the Panthers won last season and the Bruins won this season. The Bruins-Panthers had only faced each other once in the playoffs in the 1996 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal where the Bruins lost 4-1 to the Panthers which would eventually advance to the Stanley Cup Final where the Avalanche swept the Panthers.

Linus Ullmark gets 1st playoff win with Boston Bruins

Before this game, Linus Ullmark was 0-2 in the first round of last season against the Carolina Hurricanes. This was his first starts of his career as Ullmark spent his first few seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, which have the longest playoff drought in the NHL.

Ullmark had 31 saves on 32 shots against the Panthers in a great performance as he’s improved from last season where he allowed four goals in both starts against the Hurricanes.

Ullmark has had one of the greatest seasons for the Bruins as he racked up 40 wins during the magical season and even scored a goal himself. The Bruins will look to Ullmark as their main goaltender as they try to win the Stanley Cup.

dark. Next. Boston Bruins ultimate prize in 2023 is capturing the Stanley Cup

The Boston Bruins will look to continue winning in Game 2 on Wednesday at TD Garden at 7:30 on ESPN/NESN.

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