Jeremy Swayman’s Team USA Olympics push just got real, because Mike Sullivan publicly leaned on “performance matters” and the Bruins goalie has the numbers.

Connor Hellebuyck is still the default choice in most people’s heads, especially after his trophy season and that big-game résumé.

But the gap is not as wide as the reputations suggest right now. Hellebuyck entered the break at a 2.79 GAA and .900 save percentage.

Swayman’s season sits at a 2.92 GAA and .903 save percentage, with Jake Oettinger behind them at .897.

The bigger argument is workload and quality of chances, not just raw goals allowed.

Swayman ranks fourth on MoneyPuck’s goalie board with 16.2 goals saved above expected, while Hellebuyck sits 20th at 7.2 and Oettinger is at minus-1.0.

Sullivan wouldn’t name a starter, but he did say, “Performance matters,” and that’s the line that lit the fuse.

If you take that quote seriously, Swayman has a real argument to start Game 1.

He also has the recent international feather that actually counts, leading Team USA to a World Championship gold with a 1.69 GAA and .921 save percentage.

Then practice arrived and the optics got messy.

Hellebuyck worked in his own crease, while Swayman and Oettinger split the other net, which is the classic “starter plus backups” look.

Team USA has a decision to make with Jeremy Swayman

After having a rocky season last year, Swayman has put together a good case to be the starter for Team USA at the Olympics.

Getting the trust of the coaching staff isn't easy, but it seems like he has it.

Now Swayman is going to have to go out there and prove why he should be Team USA's number one option.

It's not going to get handed to him, but if he plays like he can, there is a chance he could steal the starting goaltender position from Hellebuyck.