October 10, 2024, 11:40 PM ET
BOSTON — Jeremy Swayman was the first player introduced before the Bruins’ home opener Thursday night, and he received the ice with a standing ovation.
There were no hard feelings from Boston fans about the contract snub that kept him out of training camp until he signed a $66 million contract on Sunday, two days before the season began.
“It’s unbelievable to be back playing and in this building again. It’s a boat full of gratitude,” Swayman said after stopping 21 shots to lead the Bruins to a 6-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
“It was a very emotional warm welcome,” he said. “And it just shows the type of fan base we have here, knowing that it’s more than just a player, it’s a human being that they care about. And I finally got emotional when I stepped on that ice and heard that roar again.”
Swayman was flagged for two goals midway through the first period, then gave up another pair in the third period, when Montreal cut a three-goal deficit to 5-4 on Brendan Gallagher’s second goal of the game with 4:17 left. Mark Castelich scored 17 seconds later to preserve the win.
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Swayman also gave Montreal forward Nick Suzuki a small push to keep him clear of the crease at the end of the second half, but the linesman quickly came to separate them.
“It’s kind of inertia I feel in that direction,” the goalkeeper said, laughing. “So I needed a little help with balance there.” “I have different tactics to get myself into the game – obviously being honest with my teammates and talking to the referees and doing what I want, bringing my swagger and calmness into the building and knowing that’s when I play my best.”
Swayman was the backup to Linus Ullmark in Boston’s record-setting 2022-23 season. The two alternated last year, when Swayman made 43 regular-season appearances with a 2.53 goals-against average before earning the starting job in the playoffs.
A restricted free agent, Swayman missed the entire training camp before agreeing to an eight-year deal for $8.25 million annually that places him in the top five goaltenders in the NHL for average annual value.
He had just one practice with the team before the opener, playing backup Joonas Korpisalo and giving up six goals in Tuesday’s season-opening 6-4 loss to defending Stanley Cup champion Florida. When the Panthers, who had knocked Boston out of the playoffs the past two seasons, took a 5-1 lead, their fans chanted “We want Swayman!”
“They will apply their tactics to be part of the game, and they did a good job of that,” Swayman said. “I want to play every game. I want to be in the back of the net every chance I get. So I’m excited to get this opportunity.”
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said he liked what he saw from Swayman, adding that some of the goals were due to defensive lapses.
“Jeremy Swayman was good,” he said. “He made the save he could.”
