As Linus Ullmark was being helped to the dressing room after suffering an injury during the Bruins’ 4-3 loss to the Coyotes, two conversations were likely taking place.
1. Somebody was deciding which goalie to call up from Providence.
2. Somebody else was figuring out air travel to get that goalie to Las Vegas, where the Bruins face the Golden Knights on Thursday.
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Unless Ullmark’s injury was less serious than it looked as he skated off the ice, Boston is certain to summon a goalie from the AHL. Even if Ullmark’s injury won’t cost him time they’d likely call up somebody to be safe.
If Ullmark does miss time, Jeremy Swayman will likely see his workload increase, but he can’t play every game.
Since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, the Bruins have played just one game without either Ullmark or Swayman between the pipes. Keith Kinkaid allowed one goal in a 3-1 win over Buffalo on Nov. 12, 2022. Boston traded him to the Avalanche in February. He’s currently playing in the AHL.
Boston’s options are either Brandon Bussi or Michael DiPietro, who have both been solid in Providence.
Bussi, 25, is in his third season in the Bruins organization but hasn’t played an NHL game yet. The 6-foot-4 netminder was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan. His numbers this year in Providence aren’t as good as they were last year, but are still solid.
He’s 10-6-3 with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage.
DiPietro actually has NHL experience, although it might not work in his favor. The 24-year-old played one game for the Vancouver Canucks in each of the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.
He allowed seven goals in his first career start and surrendered one goal in eight minutes in his second game in relief the following year. He allowed just three in his third game, a 3-1 loss to the Blues. He has a 0-2-0 career record in the NHL.
DiPietro is 9-5-0 for Providence this year with a 2.63 GAA and a .912 save percentage.
Whoever is getting called up could have company on the plane. With Matt Poitras and Brandon Carlo also sustaining injuries on this trip, the Bruins could make multiple moves.
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