Jeremy Swayman rising to the occasion
Picks up the shutout after making third straight start
Jeremy Swayman was given a challenge/opportunity last week when Linus Ullmark went down with an injury. If you’ve paid any attention to the University of Maine product’s young career so far, it should be no surprise that the 25-yearold netminder has seized it with both hands.
With Swayman starting his third game in a row on Monday, he posted his third shutout of the season with a 31-save performance in a 3-0 win over the Devils and he’s 2-0-1 with five goals (four in regulation) allowed in that stretch since Ullmark went down.
“I’s nice to be able to see him have this opportunity,” said coach Jim Montgomery. “If Linus wasn’t injured we wouldn’t have seen it. But his makeup is of someone that wants the net every night. Linus has that too but the swagger that (Swayman) brings, it feels like he never gets tired. And he is in tremendous shape and condition, so that probably helps his mental (state). But his mental attitude, his positivity, he exudes it and it goes through our bench.”
Swayman improved his season record to 13-3-7 with a .922 save percentage and 2.38 goals against average. He’s 4-1-2 in his starts since the Christmas break.
While Swayman could always stop the puck, Montgomery has seen his overall game grow.
“When I look at Sway’s game, he continues to improve. He’s much better this year than he was last year. His game management is better… when to move the puck up, when to recognize the other team’s changing and we can catch them,” said Montgomery. “And then just his overall presence in the crease. He’s always had a swagger and confidence to him, but now he really seems to be dialed in as far as tracking and depth in the crease.”
While the netminding styles are different, Swayman’s got the same kind of combativeness as former Bruin Tim Thomas. Swayman’s a battler. He’s not afraid to shove an opponent if he’s lingering too long near his crease. When he was pulled from a game earlier in the season, he clearly didn’t like it in the moment.
And he raised a few eyebrows after last Saturday’s win in St. Louis when, asked an innocuous question about being named to the All-Star team, he brought up his arbitration case from last summer and how he “heard things a player should never hear.”
He was asked on Monday if that experience provides motivation for him still.
“I think it was a great learning experience. I’m not going to lean on it,” said Swayman. “It’s already happened. What’s happened has happened and I’m living in the present moment. Again, it just goes back to the experience and I wouldn’t be the human being I am, I wouldn’t be the player I am if I didn’t go through it, if I didn’t have the years in college, if I didn’t have the years in junior and the years in the NHL. I’m grateful for everything that’s come my way and excited for what’s to come.”
What’s to come is most likely a decent raise from his $3.475 million salary. He’s got arbitration rights again but it’s a good bet both sides would want to avoid that again. His price will only go up if he continues to show that he’s a goalie who can handle the bulk of the starts.
That’s the next progression to his career that Swayman clearly wants to take.
“I love when people know that. Because I know that I want the net every night and that’s what I want my teammates to know, I want my coaches to know, I want this organization to know,” said Swayman. “And I actually love being in the net. It’s where I feel most comfortable. It’s what I’m born to do and every opportunity I get, I don’t take it for granted. I enjoy it to the fullest, have a smile on my face every time and look forward to more.” ….
Loose pucks
On the recently completed four-game road, David Pastrnak picked up at least a point in all but one game. But he had rough moments in the first three games that went to overtime that B’s lost.
In Colorado, his quick surprise shootout attempt that was turned away by Alexander Georgiev was widely criticized (though in reality by far the least of his mishaps). In Arizona, he failed on two clean breakaway attempts in OT. And in Vegas, his bad decision in the neutral zone led to the game-winning 2-on-1 for the Golden Knights. Even in the win in St. Louis, he got away with a giveaway and a trip in OT before Charlie McAvoy’s winner.
But he was more like himself on Monday, ripping a one-timer on the power play to give the B’s a 2-0 lead and picking up a secondary helper on Charlie Coyle’s goal.
“When you’re used to scoring and doing as much as he does, (and he has) two games where either he’s off or the puck’s not going in the net because he’s missing opportunities, he’s hard on himself. He expects great things from himself,” said Montgomery. “When we were in St. Louis, I went to talk to him at the morning skate and — he’s done this to me several times — he cuts me off, doesn’t allow me to talk. And he says ‘I’m going to be good tonight. Don’t worry about it.’”
He’s had four points (13-4) in the last two games.
Said Pastrnak: “As a pro athlete, you’re always looking for a little reset. The season is long and this stuff’s going to happen… It’s good to come back home and play in front of your fans, spend time with the family.” …
Pavel Zacha returned to the lineup after missing a game with an illness. He was “not close to 100 percent” according to Montgomery. But he played 15:49 and the effort was much appreciated by the coach. …
Brandon Carlo, Derek Forbort, Matt Poitras and Ullmark all skated on Monday but none were available for the matinee against the Devils.