PHILADELPHIA – Jeremy Swayman hit 40 times in an NHL debut to remember, while the Boston Bruins outscored the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Swayman (22) was called up on Monday and will be the fourth goalkeeper to play for the Bruins this season. While Boston may have high hopes for the former fourth-round pick, the Browns probably did not expect it at short notice. His presence was needed after Jaroslav Halak tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week.
“What an incredible experience,” Swayman said. “Winning here in Philly means it all.”
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 best player in college hockey at the University of Maine, had to hit just four times in the third period.
“He deserves much better support than we gave him,” coach Bruce Cassidy said, “and he finally got it in third place.”
After ending his junior season with the Black Bears early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he chose to skip his final season and begin a three-year deal with the Bruins. He is considered by the organization – along with Dan Vladar, who is also active in the Bruins series because Tuukka Rask is still sitting on the sidelines with an unknown torso injury – as the future of the team. Vladar played 29 times for Bruins vs. Monday. beaten the Flyers.
“It’s a game. And it’s a game I like,” Swayman said. “And I enjoyed every second of it.”
In his final season with the Black Bears, Swayman won 18-10-5 with 2.07 goals to average, and a save percentage of 939. He finished Maine to 18-11-5, good for fourth place in Hockey East.
Swayman’s effort took away a head or two from Patrice Bergeron, who scored a hat-trick and scored 900 career points in the win. Brad Marchand added a short-headed goal when the Bruins won for the second time in three games. Bergeron’s last score was in an empty net.
Jakub Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehere succeeded for the Flyers, and teammate Carter Hart, who has been ineffective for more than a month, did not break out of his slump in the goal area, but played out by Swayman on the other side.
“It’s a tough loss,” Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom said, “but there are still a lot of points.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.