Jim Montgomery angers Bruins fans by deflecting responsibility

This really isn't what you want to hear from your head coach after he waited until it was too late to make a crucial switch in the crease.

The Boston Bruins were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in seven games in Round 1 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, bringing a startling end to what was a 65-win regular season that carried understandable expectations of achieving hockey's ultimate glory after the calendar had turned to June.

And right from the get-go, it was evident that there was something ailing goaltender Linus Ullmark, who will be a Vezina Trophy candidate for his spectacular regular season record. He allowed a total of 10 goals in Boston's Game 5 and 6 losses, while also being lit up for five goals in the Game 2 loss. Clearly, there was something going on. T

It was revealed earlier today by NHL Insider and former goaltender Kevin Weekes that Ullmark "was playing through was playing through a debilitating and painful injury that limited his mobility and technique.” 

This raises the question as to why head coach Jim Montgomery, who waited until the deciding and fateful Game 7 to make the switch from Ullmark to Jeremy Swayman, didn't do so sooner. Montgomery did say that going to Swayman was considered earlier in the series when Ullmark was listed as a game time decision, but the latter wouldn't relinquish the starter's role until last night. 

But when asked about it, Montgomery simply said that it was more of a question for Bruins goaltending coach Bob Essensa instead. 

“We just thought [Swayman] was going to give us the best chance tonight,” Montgomery responded.. “You’d have to ask goalie Bob [Essensa] a little more in detail about that, but we all thought that he was going to give us the best opportunity tonight.”

Yeah, that's not how this works. As the head coach of the team, Montgomery has the final say on who gets the nod between the pipes - especially during the postseason. And it's his responsibility to face the music when questions arise as to why his goaltender, who was reportedly battling a painful injury, wasn't replaced by the team's healthy and capable backup far sooner.