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BOSTON — The Bruins aren’t committing to a goaltender for Game 2 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday even after Jeremy Swayman‘s dominant 35-save performance in Saturday’s 5-1 victory in Game 1.

Boston has used Swayman and Linus Ullmark in strict rotation during the regular season, and Boston’s coach Jim Montgomery may keep that pattern alive in the playoffs, too.

“We’re still contemplating that and [deciding] if that’s the way to go,” said Montgomery following the Bruins’ team meeting Sunday.

Montgomery tapped Swayman over Ullmark for Game 1 because Swayman “hadn’t had the opportunity to start a series before in the last couple years … he did really well.”

That wasn’t surprising given Swayman’s excellence against Toronto in the regular season, posting a 3-0-0 record and .959 SV% in those previous outings. Swayman held the Leafs mostly at bay again in a near-flawless performance Saturday, with David Kampf‘s third-period strike the only blemish — when Boston was already leading 4-0.

If Swayman hasn’t officially gotten the call yet for Monday’s game, it’s clear he impressed Montgomery.

“It’s going to be hard to go away from [Swayman],” Montgomery said Saturday. “He played a terrific game. We win 5-1. But if we decide to go with Ullmark, we’re comfortable with it and our team’s comfortable with it.”

It was Swayman’s ability to shut down the Leafs’ top skaters — including this season’s Rocket Richard Trophy winner Auston Matthews — that caught Montgomery’s attention and the way Swayman stood tall in tense moments.

“I thought his athleticism allowed him to make some really bouncing puck rebound saves,” Montgomery explained. “He made a couple point-blank saves early, and then I thought we got to our game. So, it was really important he made those saves.”

Choosing to stick with Swayman’s hot hand or go back to Ullmark will be the Bruins’ next critical decision. Ullmark was solid in the regular season with a 22-10-7 record and .915 SV%. Montgomery rode Ullmark for most of the Bruins’ first-round series against the Florida Panthers last year, leaving Swayman out until Game 7 behind a lengthy 17-day layoff between starts. The Bruins — who won last season’s Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s top points-getters — fell that night to the Panthers and were eliminated from the postseason.

This year Montgomery’s strict rotation means Swayman hasn’t played two games in two days since February. But based on Swayman’s postgame reaction Saturday, he’ll have no trouble rallying to get back in the crease.

“[It was] a dream come true,” he said. “Taking that first lap, hearing the fans … it’s a pretty emotional feeling. You just understand how hard it is to get here and what a great opportunity it was. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face the whole night. Pretty spectacular.”

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Canes’ Andersen, 35, secures deal before Round 2

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Canes' Andersen, 35, secures deal before Round 2

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes have signed goaltender Frederik Andersen to a one-year contract for next season, worth $2.75 million for the 35-year-old veteran.

General manager Eric Tulsky announced the deal Saturday, a little over 48 hours before his team starts the second round of the playoffs against the Washington Capitals.

Andersen could earn up to $750,000 in incentives for games played and his participation in a potential run to the Eastern Conference finals next season. He would get $250,000 for playing 35 or more games, another $250,000 for getting to 40 and $250,000 if the Hurricanes reach the East finals and he plays in at least half of the playoff games.

“Frederik has played extremely well for us and ranks in the top 10 all-time for winning percentage by an NHL goalie,” Tulsky said. “We’re excited that he will be staying with the team for next season.”

Andersen and the Hurricanes, the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division, advanced past the New Jersey Devils in Round 1 last week. They will meet the Capitals, who won the division crown, for the right to make the NHL’s final four.

Extending Andersen could give the team a goaltending tandem with Pyotr Kochetkov for less than $6 million combined.

Anderson, a Denmark native who previously played for the Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs, has become coach Rod Brind’Amour’s most trusted option in net. He is expected to return to the starting role for Game 1 of the Capitals series after getting injured in the first round against New Jersey.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Sovereignty outduels Journalism to capture Derby

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Sovereignty outduels Journalism to capture Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Sovereignty outdueled 3-1 favorite Journalism down the stretch to win the 151st Kentucky Derby in the slop on Saturday.

Trainer Bill Mott won his first Derby in 2019, also run on a sloppy track, when Country House was elevated to first after Maximum Security crossed the finish line first and was disqualified after a 22-minute delay.

This time, he knew right away.

Sovereignty won by 1½ lengths and snapped an 0-for-13 Derby skid for owner Godolphin, the racing stable of Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

It was quite a weekend for the sheikh. His filly, Good Cheer, won the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and earlier Saturday, Ruling Court won the 2,000 Guineas in Britain.

Sovereignty covered 1¼ miles in 2:02.31 and paid $17.96 to win at 7-1 odds.

Journalism found trouble in the first turn and jockey Umberto Rispoli moved him to the outside. He and Sovereignty hooked up at the eighth pole before Sovereignty and jockey Junior Alvarado pulled away.

Baeza was third, Final Gambit was fourth and Owen Almighty finished fifth.

Rain made for a soggy day, with the Churchill Downs dirt strip listed as sloppy and horse racing fans protecting their fancy hats and clothing with clear plastic ponchos.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Zilisch to miss Xfinity race in Texas after wreck

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Zilisch to miss Xfinity race in Texas after wreck

FORT WORTH, Texas — Connor Zilisch, the 18-year-old driver already with two NASCAR Xfinity Series race wins, will miss Saturday’s race at Texas because of lower back injuries sustained in a last-lap wreck at Talladega.

Trackhouse Racing said Wednesday that its development driver will return as soon as possible to the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. The team didn’t provide any additional details about Zilisch’s injuries.

Cup Series regular Kyle Larson will drive the No. 88 in Texas. After that, the Xfinity Series has a two-week break before racing again May 24 at Charlotte.

Zilisch, sixth in points through the first 11 races, was driving for the win at Talladega Superspeedway when contact on the backstretch sent his car spinning, and head-on into inside wall.

Zilisch won in his Xfinity debut at Watkins Glen last Sept. 14. He added another win this year at Austin, the same weekend that he made his Cup Series debut. He has six top-10 finishes in his 15 Xfinity races.

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