New Turk. Sweden’s two big NHL winter guard stars debuted a new show last night.
Linus Allmark broke Boston’s regular season record with 54 blocked shots in a win in Calgary, and Philip Gustafson responded with 39 in Minnesota’s home victory against the New York Islanders.
– Bruins coach Jim Montgomery says Calgary lost heart after Charlie McAvoy’s 4-3 overtime win.
No, Linus Ullmark and Filip Gustavsson weren’t the two brightest stars in the NHL’s Swedish sky when this season started, but now they are.
Above all, Ollmark has been one true story alive all winter and that true story continues.
In the last game he participated in, against Vancouver, he scored a goal you know, and against Calgary at the Saddledome last night, the 29-year-old Angers native stopped 54 shots – a new record for a Bruins goaltender in the regular season.
Then coach Jim Montgomery almost apologized.
– My heart bleeds for Calgary, to lose a game like this, he says.
Well, they were far too superior against the worn and tired league leaders – but they got the best Vezina Cup candidate in the back and then that could be it.
Linus himself is just happy.
– What can I say? She was very funny. You don’t want to fall to close to 60 takes, but I’ll take it. We got two points and have a winning streak after such a wild ride and I love him, smiles.
Philip Gustafsson was hotter above all else than last month’s Christmas porridge and knocked Marc-Andre Fleury out of the Wild Box – and in tonight’s home game against the New York Islanders, he showed once again that he has to be number one.
The 24-year-old West bottom was outstanding, stopping 39 shots – plus three penalties – and leading the Wild to an important 2-1 win.
– He was really good, praises coach Dean Evason.
In the Boston game, Hampus Lindholm caught one pass, as did Calgary’s Rasmus Anderson, while Dmitri Orlov – third linebacker from Washington last week – scored two goals and even played one.