Talking Points: Swayman, Bergeron Lead Way For The Boston Bruins

Here are the Talking Points from the Boston Bruins 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday night.

GOLD STAR: Jeremy Swayman is the top Boston Bruins goaltending prospect for a reason and he showed all of it on Tuesday night in Philly. The 22-year-old Swayman became just the third goaltender from Alaska to play in an NHL game, became the second Boston Bruins rookie with 40 plus saves in his NHL debut while joining Bernie Parent and stood on his head making 23 saves in the second period when the Bruins appeared to have a complete breakdown in their own end. From beginning to end he showed poise, superior athleticism between the pipes, a quick glove hand and a rare ability to track the puck while all heck was breaking loose around him. It’s clear that Swayman is a confident goaltender given the aggressive way that he plays and that’s really notable for a player that’s just 10 games into his pro hockey career. Swayman and Daniel Vladar are bailing out the Boston Bruins right now.

Hugs all around for Jeremy Swayman after a 40-save win in his NHL debut. pic.twitter.com/1TKYWGSSLO

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 7, 2021

BLACK EYE: There were certainly a few candidates with Sean Couturier getting saddled with a game-worst minus-3 when it was all over as Patrice Bergeron had a field day against his rival shutdown center. And with Travis Konecny pulling the punk move of slashing at Kevan Miller’s bad knee because he was angry about Miller hitting him hard in the corner. But the crown goes to Claude Giroux for zero shots on net and a 10-for-21 performance in the face-off circle as a bit of an invisible performance for a guy the Flyers still rely on for elite play. Giroux had an early setup on a Joel Farabee redirection that Swayman was able to stop dead in its tracks, and that was truthfully the last time Giroux was even noticed during the game.

TURNING POINT: For the Boston Bruins, it was all about surviving the second period after giving up 25 shots to the Flyers. Philly dominated and evened the score, but Jeremy Swayman stepped up and managed to keep it from getting any worse as the Bruins rookie saw pucks flying at him from all directions. Then the Bruins challenged each other to be better for the rookie that was saving their butts through 40 minutes, and Boston went out and allowed the Flyers to land just four shots on net in the final period. That included a final minute of play with the Flyers goalie pulled where Kevan Miller and Jeremy Lauzon just pinned the puck against the end boards and killed clock while the Flyers were unable to do anything except unsuccessfully battle to get it back.

HONORABLE MENTION: Patrice Bergeron finished with a hat trick for the Bruins after Brad Marchand’s hat trick last weekend as the Boston Bruins best players are pulling the B’s along even as defensive issues continue to dog the group. Bergeron powered the first period offense with a rebound score and a five-hole strike from the slot, and then finished it off with an empty net goal in the final period that iced things for the Black and Gold. The production included his 900^th career NHL point, five shots on net, two hits, two takeaways, a blocked shot and 12-of-27 face-off wins. It wasn’t Bergeron’s best night on the draw by a long shot, but you could tell he was highly motivated headed into Tuesday night after stumbling while playing defense in overtime leading to Philly’s game-winner. Bergeron, Brad Marchand and Craig Smith are doing some very good things together as a line right now.

BY THE NUMBERS: 29 – the Boston Bruins franchise record number of shorthanded goals for Brad Marchand after he scored on another one in the third period that catapulted the Bruins to the win.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “I take pride in not being the weird goalie.” –Boston Bruins rookie netminder Jeremy Swayman joking around that he isn’t very superstitious in his pregame routines.