Jeremy Swayman played his first game of the season after signing a massive eight-year contract extension earlier this week. The negotiations between Swayman and the Bruins were tough and even included some bold media strategies from both parties, but eventually, they settled on a big deal.
Now, Swayman is back in business after being the backup goalie to Jonas Korpisalo in the Bruins’ season opener. Thursday would show to be a great night for both the Bruins and Swayman.
The star goalie finished with 20 saves in the Bruins’ 6-4 over the Canadiens at TD Garden. But Swayman also had an unexpected heated exchange with Canadiens star Nick Suzuki.
Goalies don’t really like having players near their creases, and Swayman showed that on Thursday as he pushed Suzuki out of the way with his glove hand in the second period’s final seconds.
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Suzuki was just outside the blue paint when he was shoved from behind by Swayman, and naturally, he didn’t like what happened. Suzuki turned around against Swayman and said a few words, and the star goalie answered by waving at Suzuki, saying, ’Come at me,’ with all of his body language.
Suzuki and Swayman exchanged some words face-to-face, but nothing more really happened, and after the game, Swayman downplayed the incident.
”That was kind of my inertia going that way so I needed a little balance help there,” Swayman said, per NESN. ”It’s fun.”
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It’s not the first time Swayman has been involved in some sort of confrontation with an opponent, and for him, it’s a way to stay involved in the game and keep focus.
”It gets you into the game and I got different tactics of getting myself in the game,” Swayman said. ”Obviously, being vocal with my guys and chatting with the refs. Just doing my thing. Bringing my swagger, my calmness to the building and I know that’s when I play my best. So, if I got to get my balance that’s the way I’m going to do it.”
