ESPN: Bruins Coach Drops Unexpected Truth Bomb About Jeremy Swayman After Ugly Loss

Jeremy Swayman endured a rough outing on Tuesday night, allowing four goals on just 15 shots in the first period as the Boston Bruins fell 6-3 to the Ottawa Senators. The loss snapped a solid stretch for the 26-year-old netminder, who had won his previous two starts against tough opponents in the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers.

This season has been a significant test for Swayman, who stepped into the full-time role as Boston’s No. 1 goaltender. With the increased workload, his numbers have dipped, and following Tuesday’s defeat, his record fell to 20-22-6. However, the game marked a milestone—Swayman’s 48th start of the season, surpassing his career-high of 44 games from last year.

Despite the rough night, interim head coach Joe Sacco remained supportive of his goaltender.

“I don’t think you can put all of this on Sway. This was on the entire team,” Sacco told NESN’s Andy Brickley postgame. “I don’t believe his workload is a concern, but we’ll continue to monitor it. The fact is, we just weren’t sharp enough in the first period, and it cost us.”

The Senators capitalized early, netting four goals in the opening frame—all against Swayman. One of those came after a misplay from defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, who lost control of the puck in the offensive zone, leading to an Ottawa rush the other way. Seeing his team in need of a momentum shift, Sacco opted to pull Swayman at the start of the second period in favor of Joonas Korpisalo.

“We were just trying to give the team a lift,” Sacco explained to reporters after the game.

With only 15 games remaining in the regular season, the Bruins find themselves in a tense battle for a playoff spot. They currently sit two points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second Wild Card position, but the competition is fierce, with the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers also vying for a postseason berth.

Whether Swayman will get the nod in net for Boston’s crucial Saturday matchup against Tampa Bay remains uncertain, but with the playoff race tightening, every remaining game carries heightened significance. The Bruins will need their top goaltender at his best if they hope to secure a spot in the postseason.