BOSTON — Jeremy Swayman received a warm welcome from fans as he was the first player introduced at the Bruins’ home opener on Thursday night. The crowd gave him a huge ovation, demonstrating that there were no hard feelings regarding his recent contract holdout, which kept him from training camp until he signed a $66 million deal just two days before the season began.
After making 21 saves in a 6-4 win over the Montreal Canadiens, Swayman expressed his gratitude for being back on the ice. “It’s such an incredible thing to be back playing and in this building again. It’s a boatload of gratitude,” he said. The emotional welcome from fans highlighted the strong connection between the team and its supporters. “It just goes to show what kind of fan base we have here, knowing it’s more than just a player, it’s a human being that they care about,” Swayman noted.
Despite conceding a few goals, including two in the third period that tightened the score to 5-4, Swayman maintained his composure. Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher scored twice, but Mark Kastelic’s quick goal helped secure the Bruins’ victory.
In a lighthearted moment, Swayman recalled giving Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki a gentle shove at the end of the second period. “It’s kind of my inertia going that way. So I needed a little balance help there,” he laughed. He emphasized his approach to staying focused and engaged during games, bringing his “swagger” and calm demeanor to the rink.
Swayman was previously the backup to Linus Ullmark during Boston’s record-setting season last year, where he started 43 games with a 2.53 goals-against average. His recent eight-year contract places him among the top five goalies in the NHL in terms of average annual value.
Having only practiced once with the team before the opener, Swayman was eager to make an impact after backup Joonas Korpisalo struggled in the season opener. The fan chants for Swayman during that game underscored his importance to the team.
“I want to play every game. I want to be in the net every chance I can get. So I’m excited to get that opportunity,” Swayman stated. Bruins coach Jim Montgomery noted that he was pleased with Swayman’s performance and pointed out that some goals allowed were due to defensive errors.