Bruins Game-Breaker: Jeremy Swayman the difference in Game 3

The Boston Bruins played better on offense, defense, and special teams in Game 3 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the biggest difference for them came in goal with Jeremy Swayman.

The 25-year-old was sharp for the second time in the series, shepherding the Bruins to a 4-2 win in Game 3 with a 28-of-30 performance (.933) against the high-powered Maple Leafs. Toronto needed an odd-man rush against a gassed defense, and some puck luck off a Bruin and in, to solve Swayman in this one.

Leafs netminder Ilya Samsonov, meanwhile, allowed three goals on 33 shots (.909). The talent disparity in net glared the brightest during a notable sequence in the third period, when the teams traded power plays, and only the Bruins cashed in.

Faced with chances to make big point-blank saves on the penalty kill, Swayman made one, and Samsonov did not. In fact, Swayman made two, which at the time kept the Bruins clinging to a 2-1 lead.

Shortly before that, Jake DeBrusk gave the Bruins their first lead of the game when he corralled a rebound and fired it past Samsonov at the doorstep.

Granted, that was far from an easy play for Samsonov to make. But the Bruins' other two scores on him were. Trent Frederic straight-up beat him short-side from 20-plus feet out, while Brad Marchand sniped him over his glove-side shoulder. Swayman made no such blunders.

The Bruins benefitted from a higher volume of shots, out-shooting the Maple Leafs (34-30) for the first time in the series. It's clear, at this point, that it's worth testing Samsonov as much as possible, because he's obviously the inferior goaltender.

And at the other end, Swayman's big saves, rebound control, and freezes have all been both impressive and timely. He's made it a legitimate conversation for Jim Montgomery and the Bruins, whether to keep him in goal for Game 4 and possibly beyond. We know what he would like to happen.

"For me personally, I don't want rest, I just want to keep playing," Swayman said after the game. "I think no matter when I get the call, whether it's back-to-back or every other game, I want to make sure my body's ready, and I'm ready to perform at my best."

The Bruins made a few lineup adjustments ahead of Game 3, in part out of necessity due to injuries on defense. They did a better job generating chances on offense and suppressing the Leafs on defense, as a result. But if it all comes out a wash in front of the two goaltenders, the B's have a significant advantage at the last line of defense.

Only question for Swayman, now, is how soon he plays again.

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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt's content.

The Boston Bruins, fresh off lineup changes and a new offensive mindset, have come away with a series lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Brad Marchand scored twice in the third period, including the game-winner, as the Bruins beat the Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven first-round playoff series. Trent Frederic and Jake DeBrusk also scored for the B's, who out-shot the Leafs (34-30) for the first time in the series.

Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman stopped 28-of-30 shots (.933) to earn his second win of the series. After rotating with Linus Ullmark through the first three games of the series, Swayman has likely made it a real conversation whether to stick with him in Game 4.

The teams played to a scoreless draw in a tightly contested first period. At 5-on-5, the Bruins generated a higher volume of shot attempts (13-8), but the Leafs had a 4-1 advantage in shots on goal, thanks in large part to their shot-blocking (nine total).

It was in the second period that someone finally struck, as Toronto took a 1-0 lead off the stick of Matthew Knies. Leafs winger Mitch Marner led an odd-man rush up ice then fed it down low toward Knies, who redirected it past Swayman to put the home team on top.

The Bruins tied the game later in the second, after the TV broadcast captured a wild sequence. Marchand got tangled up with former teammate Tyler Bertuzzi and ultimately tripped him to the ice, with no call. Immediately after that, Frederic rushed in and beat Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov for his second goal of the series and a 1-1 tie.

Finally cashing in on the power play in a penalty-filled night, DeBrusk gathered a rebound in front of Samsonov and buried it to put the Bruins on top, 2-1. DeBrusk now has three goals in the series and six in his last seven playoff games overall.

Later in the third period, the Maple Leafs got the bounce they needed to solve Swayman. A point shot by Morgan Rielly deflected off Bertuzzi, then off Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm and into the net to square the game back up at 2-2.

The tie game was short-lived. Just 28 seconds after the Bertuzzi goal, Marchand beat Samsonov with an absolute snipe into a tiny window in the top corner short-side, giving the Bruins the lead back at 3-2. Marchand would add an empty-netter later on to ice the win for good.

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Up Next: The Bruins and Maple Leafs get back to it for Game 4 on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

Get complete Boston Bruins coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt's content.