Jeremy Swayman looks like franchise goalie as Bruins eliminate Maple Leafs
For the last two seasons, the Boston Bruins have relied on the best goalie tandem in the league to be successful. However, over the last few weeks, Jeremy Swayman has seen his playing time increase. In the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the former fourth-round pick continued to impress while frustrating Maple Leaf skaters on a nightly basis.
In six games this postseason, Swayman has posted a 1.49 goals against average and .950 save percentage. He has not allowed more than two goals in a start and held Toronto to one goal three times. As the Bruins offense struggled at times, Swayman was able to keep them in the series until David Pastrnak secured a series win in overtime on Saturday night.
With the first round in the books, Swayman has been one of the best goalies in the league. He ranks second in save percentage and goals-against average, trailing only Toronto's Joseph Woll. Unlike Swayman, Woll has only appeared in three games.
As the Bruins prepare to take on the Florida Panthers, Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery has a difficult decision to make in net. Veteran Linus Ullmark is still expected to see some playing time, but Swayman has arguably been the Bruins's best player. Montgomery echoed that on Saturday night when he spoke with the media.
"He was our best player in the series," Montgomery said. "It's not close, right? And I think that his confidence and his swagger, I think it permeated through the group."
On Monday night, the Bruins will get their first chance at revenge when the puck drops at 8 PM. Last year, the Bruins had a 3-1 series over Florida before they collapsed and were sent packing. While the Panthers will be favored in this series, the Bruins have a player in Swayman who looks unstoppable and is playing like the franchise goalie.
