There is a big reasons why i challenged the maple leaf Goalie, says Bruins Jeremy
BOSTON — The Boston Bruins’ matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs at TD Garden on Thursday night had the chippiness of a playoff game. So much so that even Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman wanted in on the action.
Swayman got involved in a scrum that erupted just outside his crease in the second period, but the Boston netminder wasn’t done.
With 14:31 left to play in the final period, the Bruins and Maple Leafs battled along the boards after Max Domi took down Brad Marchand. Swayman skated just below center ice and motioned to Toronto goalie Joseph Woll. Woll didn’t bite.
“Probably didn’t call for it. I don’t know, I see all my guys go in … it’s a team effort, we all go in,” Swayman said. “He’s my buddy, I respect the hell out of him and his game. It was just an opportunity, but nothing happened.”
Swayman has been known to get a bit feisty when he’s protecting his net, but it’s not something he wants to necessarily put on his hockey resume.
“I’ll never force something like that,” Swayman said. “But if it happens, it happens. It’s hockey.”
In his past two starts, Swayman has let in just two goals, and the Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 in both games. He made 59 combined saves in the wins.
“I just take practice seriously,” Swayman said. “Understanding where the threats are without the puck and relying on my defense. Understanding that they know where rushers are coming in and just doing my job. Trying to be square and stuff rebounds.”
Swayman added about the defense in front of him: “Like a different level. Communication, understanding our system and executing to a tee and relying on each other and understanding that our system works.”
The Bruins get back to work on Saturday when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden.
Ford Final Five Facts: Bruins Stay Undefeated Against Maple Leafs
The Boston Bruins won their 20th game at home this season, bouncing back with a 4-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday after their loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.
With this win, the Bruins are now 4-0-0 against the Leafs this season, with goaltender Jeremy Swayman picking up three out of those four victories.
The B’s extended their winning streak over Toronto to seven games after Thursday night’s W, with their last loss to the Leafs all the way back on Nov. 22, 2022.
For more from the Bruins’ win, George Balekji has the Ford F-150 Final Five Facts in the video above.
