The Boston Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman has been a force to be reckoned with against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the ongoing first-round Stanley Cup playoff series. Swayman’s dominance, which includes a 5-0-0 record and a 28-save shutout in Game 3, has sparked speculation about its potential psychological impact on the Leafs.
Leafs coach Jim Montgomery hinted at this possibility, referencing an incident late in Game 3 where forward Max Domi appeared to intentionally bump into Swayman during a TV timeout. Montgomery suggested that such actions could be indicative of Swayman getting into the Leafs’ heads.
Bruins forward Trent Frederic echoed Montgomery’s sentiments, opining that Swayman’s recent success may be causing some exasperation within the Leafs. He pointed to the team’s struggles to score goals in this series, noting that they haven’t managed more than three goals in any of the three games so far.
However, Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe downplayed the notion that Swayman was affecting his team’s performance. He emphasized that Domi’s bump was simply a part of the physical nature of playoff hockey. Keefe also expressed confidence in his team’s ability to generate scoring chances, despite their low output in the series so far.
The Leafs are hoping for a boost with the potential return of forward William Nylander, who has missed the first three games of the series due to an undisclosed injury. Nylander has been a key offensive contributor for the Leafs in the regular season, and his return could provide a much-needed spark.
As for who the Bruins will start in goal for Game 4, that remains to be seen. Both Swayman and Linus Ullmark have been impressive in their respective starts, and coach Jim Montgomery has yet to reveal his decision. The Bruins have employed a consistent rotation of the two goalies throughout the season, and it’s likely that they will continue to do so in this series.
