Swayman emerging from rough start at a critical time for Bruins, steals point against Senators

Jeremy Swayman had a heap of expectations on his shoulders coming into this season.

The Bruins’ rising youngster between the pipes, finished fifth in voting for the Calder Trophy, annually given to the NHL’s top rookie.

The University of Maine product put up a respectable .914 save percentage and 2.41 goals-against average to go along with a 23-14-3 record and three shutouts in his first full season in the NHL. He eventually took over as the starter in the playoffs before Boston fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games. 

With the Bruins nursing injuries to key players like Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk to start the year, the idea of a sophomore slump while Boston trod water until returning to full strength was a sobering thought. 

But when the Bruins did more than stay afloat, jumping out to one of the best starts in franchise history, they withstood the dreaded slump from their young netminder. 

It certainly helped that Jim Montgomery’s system seemed to unlock a new level for the Black and Gold’s offense, while Swayman’s bear-hugging counterpart, Linus Ullmark, quickly inserted himself into the early conversation for the Vezina Trophy. 

Swayman’s subpar .902 save percentage through his first six starts grew more concerning, then add in a knee injury. Meanwhile, Ullmark, who has an injury history of his own, continued to rack up appearances, projecting to smash his previous career-high of 41 games, which he set last season. 

So, Boston would have gladly taken a bounce back for the Alaska native during the holiday season, and over the last month-plus, they’ve gotten it. 

While the Bruins may have run into Cam Talbot and his 49 saves on Tuesday in a 3-2 shootout loss at Ottawa, it was Swayman who perhaps gave Boston the best chance to win. 

Talbot, understandably drew the headlines, making 26 saves in the third period before locking it down in overtime and the shootout. 

Talbot may have stolen a win for the Senators, but Swayman stole a point for the Bruins. 

He started the game with saves on a number of Grade-A opportunities, stopping Brady Tkachuk’s between-the-legs bid on a breakaway before saving two Tim Stützle breakaways as the Bruins tried to sharpen up coming out of the holiday break. 

When the Senators did break through, it took a blistering one-timer from Stützle with the Bruins’ penalty killers out of sorts and a sweet finish from Alex DeBrincat on a quick-up after a broken sequence in the neutral zone. 

He wasn’t tested much in the third period (just five saves), but in an overtime that left everyone on the edge of their seats, Swayman was just as good, if not better, than the headliner at the other end. Tasked with stifling several odd-man rushes for Ottawa, high-danger chances from DeBrincat, and a Tkachuk breakaway in the dying moments, Swayman was as good as ever, stopping each of the six shots he faced in the frantic five minutes. 

Tuesday night’s 30-save outing makes for a much-improved .913 save percentage in his last seven appearances and, even better, a .934 marker in his last three.

It certainly looks like Swayman has found his form again. 

“He sure does [have his swagger back],” Montgomery said on the NESN broadcast after the game. “I thought he was excellent throughout the game. You know, their goalie obviously had to make a lot of big-time saves in the third, but I thought Sway made a lot of big-time saves throughout the game.”

On a travel day coming out of a layoff, it would not have been abnormal to see the Bruins or Swayman put out a clunker, and even though Boston’s momentum wavered throughout the night, Swayman remained steady amid the ebbs and flows.

“Shot repetition. That’s what I want. I want a lot of shots. I want to be challenged,” Swayman said. “I’ve had my fair share of adversity so far, and I’ve tried to use that to my advantage. Just move forward and take the positives from each game.”

He continued, “I just want to play one shot at a time. Obviously, they pushed the whole time. They’re physical, they knew we were traveling, and it was a tough day.”

With the dog days of the NHL schedule looming after the Winter Classic on Monday and the importance of managing Ullmark’s workload, it appears Swayman’s resurgence could not have come at a better time.