PHILADELPHIA – Jeremy Swayman made 40 saves in an NHL debut to remember as the Boston Bruins outlasted the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Swayman, 22, was called up on Monday to become the fourth goalkeeper to play for the Bruins this season. While Boston has high hopes for the former fourth-round pick, the Bruins probably didn’t expect it any time soon. His presence was needed after Jaroslav Halak tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week.
“What an incredible experience,” said Swayman. “To win here in Philadelphia, it means everything.”
The Flyers tested Swayman with 25 shots in the second period, including a breakaway from Scott Laughton that he calmly stopped. Swayman, a Hobey Baker finalist last season as the best player in college hockey at the University of Maine, made only four saves in the third period.
“He deserved much better support than we gave him,” said coach Bruce Cassidy, “and he ended up getting it in the third.”
After his junior season with the Black Bears ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he opted to skip his final season and sign a three-year entry-level contract with the Bruins. He is seen by the organization – along with Dan Vladar, who is also on the Bruins roster as Tuukka Rask is still sidelined with an undisclosed upper body injury – as the team’s future in the net. Vladar made 29 saves on Monday for the Bruins vs. the Flyers.
“It’s a game. And it’s a game I love,” said Swayman. “And I loved it every second.”
In his last season with the Black Bears, Swayman went 18-10-5 with an average of 2.07 goals conceded and a save percentage of 0.939. He led Maine to an 18-11-5 finish, good for fourth place in Hockey East.
Swayman’s attempt took a header or two away from Patrice Bergeron, who took up a hat-trick and took 900 career points in the win. Brad Marchand added a short-handed goal as the Bruins won for the second time in three games. Bergeron’s last count was in an empty net.
Jakub Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehere scored for the Flyers, and teammate Carter Hart, who has been ineffective for over a month, couldn’t get out of his slump and was knocked out by Swayman on the other side.
“It’s a tough loss,” said Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom, “but plenty of points are still known.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.