The Boston Bruins are not taking their goalie tandem of Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman for granted.

BRIGHTON, Mass. – The Linus Ullmark-Jeremy Swayman goalie tandem is a major reason why the Boston Bruins are 12-1-2. The two have rotated starts every game so far, and Bruins coach Jim Montgomery is prepared to ride that rotation as long as it works.

“They’re a luxury that allows us to be an elite team,” Montgomery said on Friday. “It’s why we, in my opinion, we had such a great regular season [last year], it’s surely why we’re having a great regular season this year. We just tell them up front that we’re gonna be alternating. ‘You guys are both integral parts of why our team can be really good.’”

Ullmark won the Vezina Trophy last year after leading the NHL in wins (40), save percentage (.938) and goals against average (1.89), but this year it’s Swayman leading the NHL in the latter two categories. Swayman is 6-0-1 with a .944 save percentage and 1.69 GAA through seven starts.

Ullmark, meanwhile, has a 6-1-1 record with a .928 save percentage (fifth in the NHL) and 2.23 GAA (eighth).

Montgomery noted that historically great goaltenders such as Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur and Dominik Hasek are among the type who coaches want to roll out for 60-plus games, but the ability to start a top-tier goaltender every night without running one into the ground has been the key for the Bruins’ duo’s success, especially in today's era.

“The wear-and-tear on goalies is more significant now with the condensed schedule and how good everybody is,” Montgomery said. “You gotta have a good goalie every night, so that’s why the balance, I think, makes it so important.”

The Bruins ditched the rotation during the playoffs last season, riding an injured Ullmark through six games, going up 3-1 before the Florida Panthers forced a Game 7. Swayman started that final game, but Florida pulled off the overtime win to stun Boston in a first-round upset.

If the Bruins find themselves in the playoffs again this spring, which seems probable through 15 games, Montgomery confirmed he would “absolutely” be open to continuing the rotation through the postseason. Swayman said he isn’t thinking about the playoffs until they arrive, but agrees his partnership with Ullmark is a rare advantage.

“Not many teams have that luxury, so I think we’re really fortunate to have a really structured offense and defense to allow our jobs to be a little easier and give ourselves a chance to win every night,” Swayman said.

The Bruins know what they have, and if it isn’t broken, they don’t plan on fixing it. Swayman will look to avenge his only loss of the season so far – a 3-2 overtime defeat to Montreal last week – on Saturday when the Bruins welcome the Canadiens to TD Garden for the first time this season.