Bruins notebook: Linus Ullmark, Matt Poitras termed “day-to-day”
The Bruins headed into their matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday missing some key pieces, but it looks like worst-case scenario that some B’s fans feared did not come to fruition.
The last time we saw Linus Ullmark, he was glided off the ice by teammates in Arizona on Tuesday, unable to really take a stride, with what the club would only describe as a lower body injury. But after the team’s morning skate at T-Mobile Arena, coach Jim Montgomery told reports in Vegas that Ullmark has been termed day-to-day, as was rookie Matt Poitras, who appeared to hurt his shoulder in the same game. Both players remain with the team on the trip that finishes on Saturday in St. Louis, as does as Brandon Carlo (upper body, day-to-day).
None of the three injured players were on the ice for the morning skate on Thursday.
With Poitras unavailable for Thursday’s game, Jesper Boqvist was bumped up to play with Pavel Zacha and David Pastrnak while Morgan Geekie was centering Trent Frederic and Danton Heinen on the third line in the morning skate.
“You get to know other players. They get elevated roles and you get to know if they do relish it and own the moment. And that’s what you’re looking for,” said Montgomery.
With Ullmark out for the time being, the B’s most likely will lean more heavily on Jeremy Swayman, who has mostly alternated with Ullmark this season.
“When we talk about people getting opportunity, he’s a young man that you know just can’t wait for the opportunity. He just wants more and more. And he’s going to get the ability to play consecutive games here. I have a lot of confidence because of his attitude and confidence,” said Montgomery, who expects he’ll be without Ullmark for at least the St. Louis game as well.
With Ullmark unavailable to back up Jeremy Swayman on Thursday, Brandon Bussi was called up from Providence.
While Bussi had little chance of making the team out of training camp, Montgomery was impressed by the Western Michigan product.
The coach liked his “compete, his athleticism and his attitude. He carries himself in a real positive, upbeat manner. He’s got a strut to himself.”…
Montgomery opened his morning presser in Vegas addressing the news of the day, the departure of Bill Belichick from the Patriots.
He congratulated Belichick “on a tremendous 24-year run with the New England Patriots and an incredible success that’s never been seen before in the NFL. And how he has impacted coaches. I know he has impacted a lot of football coaches but I think it goes across every sport, because you study other coaches and how they handle players and the team and difference between the motivational and the structure Xs and Os. And obviously he’s a master of all and someone that I’m very lucky to have spent some time with.”