Jeremy Swayman looks settled in after dominating start vs Kings
The contract is signed. The rust is off. The public spats are old news. Jeremy Swayman is settling in and playing.
And on Saturday, he was the Bruins’ best, most valuable player.
Swayman stopped 33-of-34 shots (.971) by the Los Angeles Kings in a 2-1 overtime win in a matinée at TD Garden. He appeared to get better as the game went along, turning aside all 10 shots in the third period and stopping two more in OT.
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The Kings out-shot the Bruins 34-25 in the game, including a 16-5 advantage in high-danger scoring chances. But despite the Kings’ efficient offensive attack, the Bruins played with slightly better defensive zone structure in this game than they did in a messy first two.
Breakouts are still a bit of a struggle, and the Bruins lost a lot of board battles, so Swayman faced a high volume of shots. But there was less chaos, not as many guys getting wide open behind the defense. That seemed to help Swayman lock in and do what he’s supposed to do when he’s able to track the puck, which is keep it out of the net.
“It just goes to show, it’s what we’re doing as a gameplan, clearing bodies in front, clearing sticks, making sure I’m getting that first look and I’m doing my job as well,” Swayman said. “Couldn’t be happier with the effort that my guys did in front of me.”
Now that Swayman has finally signed his eight-year extension with the Bruins, and gotten his first game under his belt, and all the added emotions that come with that, he feels like he can simply settle in and play, and focus more on the smaller things going forward.
“There’s new challenges every day that come, and that’s my mindset is to simplify my world,” Swayman said. “Most important thing I’m doing right now is talking to you, next one’s drinking my protein shake and going to shower. It’s simple things that I’ve been working on, and it’s been a good formula for me, so I’m going to continue that.”
The one goal Swayman did allow was at the tail end of a power play, technically even-strength but still in a literal 5-on-4 situation. The Bruins lost their man on this one, as Kings forward Trevor Moore found himself wide open and in the right spot at the right time for a fortuitous bounce.
The Bruins still need to strengthen their play along the boards and their decision-making with the puck in their own end, if they want to make life easier on themselves and Swayman. But Saturday was a promising reminder of why they just inked their top goaltender for $66 million.
No. 1 is likely to go between the pipes for a third straight game on Monday, when the Bruins host the Florida Panthers for another matinée game. If the Bruins can’t figure out their D-zone coverage against the Florida forecheck after a sloppy season opener, it’s going to be a lot harder for Swayman to snatch them another victory.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
3 Stars: Bruins get big production from first, fourth lines in home opener
Third Star: Nikita Zadorov
L-R: Mark Kastelic, Nikita Zadorov (Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)
The hulking Zadorov is better known for his physical style of defensive play, but he made his presence felt at the offensive end early in the game. Zadorov showed off his surprising knack for sneaking the puck through traffic and setting up forwards for scoring opportunities.
First, Zadorov played catch with Kastelic to create what at the time was an important goal to tie the game back up 2-2, after the B’s briefly fell behind the Habs. For his second assist of the night, Zadorov lasered the puck to the blade of Lindholm’s stick in the slot for a tip-in that put the Bruins on top 3-2.
“It’s always nice to get on the board to help your team to score a goal,” Zadorov said after the game. “Obviously, it’s not my mentality to go out there and put up some points, but it’s great to contribute offensively, for sure.”
Zadorov also dished out two hits, including a particularly loud wrecking ball on poor Kirby Dach.
That stuff should be expected more consistently. The offensive output would be a bonus. Zadorov acknowledged that there’s “room for improvement” for the team defensively after allowing four goals. But Zadorov led all Bruins defensemen with a 61.8% on-ice shot attempt rate at 5-on-5 (via Natural Stat Trick), which is a great sign for his 200-foot game and his fit with his new team.
Second Star: Cole Koepke
Cole Koepke celebrates a goal. (Rich Gagnon/Getty Images)
A Tampa Bay castaway, Koepke is playing like he does not intend to come out of the NHL lineup again. The 26-year-old and the aforementioned fourth line brought the speed, forechecking, and tenacity that Montgomery called for on Thursday, and Koepke in particular often looked like the fastest skater on the ice whenever out there.
Koepke finished with a goal, two assists, two shots, and a hit, despite playing a team-low 7:20 of ice time, as the Bruins deployed their top guys more heavily to close things out in the third. He exemplified the spark the team wanted to find after a disappointing season opener, playing with a consistent motor and keeping the Habs on their heels.
“Something that me, Kasty, and Beech talked about, it’s something we think our line can utilize well is just get it in deep, skate fast, and try and wear them down,” Koepke said. “Good things will happen when you play the right way. The puck was on our side tonight.”
Koepke cleaned up Beecher’s hard drive to the net for his first goal of the season, and also earned his two assists. He drove hard himself to get the pieces in place for Kastelic’s first goal, and found Kastelic through the neutral zone for his second.
After that performance, there’s no need for Montgomery to touch that line for the time being.
First Star: Elias Lindholm
L-R: Elias Lindholm, Mike Matheson (Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images)
The Bruins’ new No. 1 center is off to an outstanding start in his first two games, especially at the offensive end, with a goal and three assists. He’s stood out in all situations, leading the team with an 81.8% on-ice Corsi at 5-on-5 Thursday night and logging an assist on the power play.
Montgomery touched on the quality that helped Lindholm’s line excel against the Canadiens, which is his ability to win small battles and manage the puck in order to create opportunities for David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha. That was most evident on Pastrnak’s goal, when Lindholm created a loose puck that Zacha retrieved and handled before feeding Pastrnak for the one-timer.
“I mean, there’s definitely room for improvement, I think that was the fourth game together [since the preseason], but it’s fun to play with those two,” Lindholm said of his new linemates. “They have good chemistry together. They’re fun to play with. They skate well, they’re making plays and scoring goals. So, it’s fun to be a part of.”
Lindholm’s beautifully well-rounded game is something the Bruins always want out of their centers, and desperately needed on their depth chart. It’s paying huge early dividends.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
