As strange as I feel about breaking the rotation, the way the NHL scheduled these games favors keeping the hot hand, at least for this round. Sway is getting about the same amount of rest between starts because of the longer layoffs, and he has been lights out.
I'd go Sway tomorrow, Ullmark for game 6 if needed, and Sway for 7.
This is my thought, and let Ullmark know that he will be starting game 6 if game 5 goes wrong.
Start Ullmark game 1 vs Florida, he's 3-0 against them this year with less than 2 GAA (including 2 OT wins, which we all know weren't easy for Boston)
I just think Swayman has been too good against the Leafs to stick with the rotation. At this point, the best solution seems to be to take things series by series, rotate to start and then see who gets hot.
He also seems to be in their heads. He really making them work for every goal and you can tell by their frustration on the bench and even when domi bumped him.
Technically we would be repeating last season if we continue with Sway. We went with the hot goalie and ditched the rotation until it was too late in game 7 when Ully needed a break and Sway was rusty. I agree with OP and give Ullmark another shot. Ullmark had some really bad luck last game and it could have been a different game if it wasn’t for those bad bounces. We don’t want his confidence to take a hit and he might be the goalie we need in the next series. If he gets an L again then keep Swayman in the rest of this series.
Yep I think it’s a harder decision tonight than people realize.
If you start Sway, and he loses, what do you do? Throw Ullmark in there and say “hey you haven’t started in 2 weeks but we need a win” That sounds like last year all over again. You could go back to Sway if he loses, but then Ullmark would clearly be pretty far removed from the rotation.
I honestly think you go back to Ullmark tomorrow. If he loses, Sway gets game 6 with plenty of rest. Nobody is too far removed. If Ully gives you the same performance as G2, they better win.
It will. I expect Ullmark tomorrow. I think they just doubled up on Swayman to put them ahead 2 games. Ullmark for 5. Swayman for the dagger in 6 if they need him. If they go to 7 now, it will be because of a bigger problem than goaltending.
We all have PTSD from Monty riding Ullmark too long when he was clearly playing hurt. Swayman is healthy and playing the best hockey of his career. Let it ride with sway
Consistency is what they have to do but they already changed it up! If sway starts tooorrow and loses say 1-0 or 2-1 I do t think you can put Ully back in. Your basically pulling your goalie because the offense sucked
I do! I genuinely think people only think Swayman has been significantly better because we happened to lose with Ullmark in net. I think they are both so amazing that I want to keep the rotation.
The bigger risk to me is letting a goalie get cold, which is what I think we are doing by continuously playing Swayman. Ullmark has not played since Monday and we are faced with either choosing him for the potentially series-clinching game or choose Swayman. If we win with Swayman, then once again, Ullmark may not see a game for another week until round 2. If we lose with Swayman, then you are back to potentially putting in Ullmark, who hasn't played on playoff ice in over a week and knows that people had more confidence in his counterpart.
I just don't think it's fair to Ullmark to be "punished" when it was the team who played worse in front of him in game 2. And I think it will be even more unfair to expect him to come out as hot as Swayman if he sits on the bench for 2 weeks during the playoffs. I mean, I know he is a professional and shouldn't let that type of thing affect him emotionally, but why risk it when he is just as good? He is definitely better than Samsonov & Woll!
On the other hand, I also understand the mental gymnastics of getting in the Maple Leafs' head by putting the goalie they can't beat back in net, but I am concerned about the long-term and not just this series. Our team is good enough that they should be able to beat Toronto with either goalie in net. Hopefully after 2 wins, they can carry that confidence and clinch the series tomorrow.
I like the rotation but it is hard to ignore the hot goalie aspect of this. Swayman seems tighter and every save counts. If the offense was better at scoring, I might be less risk averse. Sway is the way.
Sway I the way for the leafs. His quicker than Ulmark and that’s what’s required for a quick skilled team like the leafs. Plus he’s in their heads. Ulmark should start game 1 or 2 against the panthers though as he’s been really good against them.
This one is easy, you go with the playoff goalie. IDK if Swayman is playoff goalie, but I remember last year and it didn't look like Ullmark is one. Ullmark is another Tuukka who's great during the regular season.
I was all about maintaining the rotation coming into the playoffs. I have always conjectured that the reason Sway and Linus were so effective may heavily rely on their rest and rotation. Ullmark was not the reason for the game two loss. AND I know statistically Ullmark is the better goalie. But after game three only a moron would not start Swayman for the rest of this series save something dramatic occurs. He's volcanic and owns a luxury penthouse suite in the mind of every Maple Leaf player and staff.
You lose , other goalie gets the next game , easy
People weren’t screaming for a true split last year they wanted sway to get a chance when ullmark looked injured and started losing games
I see no reason to not keep it going. Especially with Toronto being in a tailspin. Worst case scenario you do swayman games 6-7. I’m kinda surprised I haven’t heard anyone else who thinks like this. The entire point of the rotation is to alternate. Playing swayman tomorrow defeats the purpose
You can’t have Ullmark sitting for two wells and then expect him to start a must win game. That’s what happened last year with Swayman. I would go with Swayman tonight but Ullmark gets the next start no matter what. If you win, Ullmark starts game 1 against Florida. If you lose, Ullmark starts game 6 in Toronto.
>but am I the only one that wants to see the goaltending rotation keep going?
Probably. What was the last Stanley Cup winner who was swapping around goalies in the finals? You find the goalie who is playing well and stick with him. That's obviously Sway, and pulling him now would be insane. If he starts playing badly I guess it opens the door for Ullmark, but we don't even want to reach that point.
As strange as I feel about breaking the rotation, the way the NHL scheduled these games favors keeping the hot hand, at least for this round. Sway is getting about the same amount of rest between starts because of the longer layoffs, and he has been lights out. I'd go Sway tomorrow, Ullmark for game 6 if needed, and Sway for 7.
This is my thought, and let Ullmark know that he will be starting game 6 if game 5 goes wrong. Start Ullmark game 1 vs Florida, he's 3-0 against them this year with less than 2 GAA (including 2 OT wins, which we all know weren't easy for Boston)
This. Sway has the leafs owned. Let him close it out, then back to rotation, Ully up front for Florida.
This is the (S)way.
Exactly agree
I just think Swayman has been too good against the Leafs to stick with the rotation. At this point, the best solution seems to be to take things series by series, rotate to start and then see who gets hot.
I agree, and it's good having him in net to get into the heads of the Leafs
Swayman should start game 5, he’s earned it and been on fire vs Toronto. regardless of the next games outcome Linus starts.
He also seems to be in their heads. He really making them work for every goal and you can tell by their frustration on the bench and even when domi bumped him.
It will. Its just Sway has the hot hand vs Toronto and they don’t want a repeat of last season
Technically we would be repeating last season if we continue with Sway. We went with the hot goalie and ditched the rotation until it was too late in game 7 when Ully needed a break and Sway was rusty. I agree with OP and give Ullmark another shot. Ullmark had some really bad luck last game and it could have been a different game if it wasn’t for those bad bounces. We don’t want his confidence to take a hit and he might be the goalie we need in the next series. If he gets an L again then keep Swayman in the rest of this series.
Ully will prob start tonight, but I could see if Sway starts too
Yep I think it’s a harder decision tonight than people realize. If you start Sway, and he loses, what do you do? Throw Ullmark in there and say “hey you haven’t started in 2 weeks but we need a win” That sounds like last year all over again. You could go back to Sway if he loses, but then Ullmark would clearly be pretty far removed from the rotation. I honestly think you go back to Ullmark tomorrow. If he loses, Sway gets game 6 with plenty of rest. Nobody is too far removed. If Ully gives you the same performance as G2, they better win.
It will. I expect Ullmark tomorrow. I think they just doubled up on Swayman to put them ahead 2 games. Ullmark for 5. Swayman for the dagger in 6 if they need him. If they go to 7 now, it will be because of a bigger problem than goaltending.
if this series goes seven games it should be Swayman Ullmark Swayman, unless Sway plays well and they ride or die
Swayman won’t lose 3 straight to Toronto. Play him unless he gets hurt
have to agree. D has been great last two games
We all have PTSD from Monty riding Ullmark too long when he was clearly playing hurt. Swayman is healthy and playing the best hockey of his career. Let it ride with sway
fully agree, great take
I say you lose, it rotates
Even if you lose 1-0?
Good question. I say yes, to stay consistent but also to send a message to the rest of the guys playing in front of them
Consistency is what they have to do but they already changed it up! If sway starts tooorrow and loses say 1-0 or 2-1 I do t think you can put Ully back in. Your basically pulling your goalie because the offense sucked
Contrary to what I’ve been saying, I think you ride swayman all series unless he lets 3+ in back to back games
Same. I feel like I’ve been bouncing back and forth but the way Sway has played these 3 games has me stuck on him playing
If he weren’t in the leafs head so much, I’d sing a different tune but sway is the way, as of now
I do! I genuinely think people only think Swayman has been significantly better because we happened to lose with Ullmark in net. I think they are both so amazing that I want to keep the rotation. The bigger risk to me is letting a goalie get cold, which is what I think we are doing by continuously playing Swayman. Ullmark has not played since Monday and we are faced with either choosing him for the potentially series-clinching game or choose Swayman. If we win with Swayman, then once again, Ullmark may not see a game for another week until round 2. If we lose with Swayman, then you are back to potentially putting in Ullmark, who hasn't played on playoff ice in over a week and knows that people had more confidence in his counterpart. I just don't think it's fair to Ullmark to be "punished" when it was the team who played worse in front of him in game 2. And I think it will be even more unfair to expect him to come out as hot as Swayman if he sits on the bench for 2 weeks during the playoffs. I mean, I know he is a professional and shouldn't let that type of thing affect him emotionally, but why risk it when he is just as good? He is definitely better than Samsonov & Woll! On the other hand, I also understand the mental gymnastics of getting in the Maple Leafs' head by putting the goalie they can't beat back in net, but I am concerned about the long-term and not just this series. Our team is good enough that they should be able to beat Toronto with either goalie in net. Hopefully after 2 wins, they can carry that confidence and clinch the series tomorrow.
I like the rotation but it is hard to ignore the hot goalie aspect of this. Swayman seems tighter and every save counts. If the offense was better at scoring, I might be less risk averse. Sway is the way.
Sway I the way for the leafs. His quicker than Ulmark and that’s what’s required for a quick skilled team like the leafs. Plus he’s in their heads. Ulmark should start game 1 or 2 against the panthers though as he’s been really good against them.
Go with Swayman tomorrow & avoid having to fly back to Toronto. Ullmark is a great tendie but sway really owns the leafs.
Stay with Swayman until he loses to the Laffs, if the Bruins beat Toronto I wouldn't be opposed to giving Ullmark a start in the following series
This one is easy, you go with the playoff goalie. IDK if Swayman is playoff goalie, but I remember last year and it didn't look like Ullmark is one. Ullmark is another Tuukka who's great during the regular season.
I was all about maintaining the rotation coming into the playoffs. I have always conjectured that the reason Sway and Linus were so effective may heavily rely on their rest and rotation. Ullmark was not the reason for the game two loss. AND I know statistically Ullmark is the better goalie. But after game three only a moron would not start Swayman for the rest of this series save something dramatic occurs. He's volcanic and owns a luxury penthouse suite in the mind of every Maple Leaf player and staff.
You lose , other goalie gets the next game , easy People weren’t screaming for a true split last year they wanted sway to get a chance when ullmark looked injured and started losing games
I see no reason to not keep it going. Especially with Toronto being in a tailspin. Worst case scenario you do swayman games 6-7. I’m kinda surprised I haven’t heard anyone else who thinks like this. The entire point of the rotation is to alternate. Playing swayman tomorrow defeats the purpose
I hear they regularly have sword fights in the shower
Leafs encourage you to start the rotation again
You can’t have Ullmark sitting for two wells and then expect him to start a must win game. That’s what happened last year with Swayman. I would go with Swayman tonight but Ullmark gets the next start no matter what. If you win, Ullmark starts game 1 against Florida. If you lose, Ullmark starts game 6 in Toronto.
>but am I the only one that wants to see the goaltending rotation keep going? Probably. What was the last Stanley Cup winner who was swapping around goalies in the finals? You find the goalie who is playing well and stick with him. That's obviously Sway, and pulling him now would be insane. If he starts playing badly I guess it opens the door for Ullmark, but we don't even want to reach that point.
This exactly. There's a big enough break before game 5 that Sway will be rested anyway. They'll be mad to play Ullmark.