Jeremy Swayman just stole a chippy matinee, making 40 saves as the Bruins beat the Panthers 4-1 at TD Garden.
Boston came in at 12-4-1 and had won three straight. Make it four, and make it the kind of afternoon where Marco Sturm's group needed its goalie to be the best player on the ice.
Conor Ryan noted that Swayman turned in a 40-save performance in the win.
The Panthers pushed hard in the third, and Swayman answered. Jameson Olive pointed out that he made some robberies in that period after entering the day 6th in the NHL with 7.3 goals saved above expected.
Both goalies made double-digit high-danger saves late, but only one of them got any help on the scoreboard.
The skaters did their part early. Michael Eyssimont scored in his season debut, Morgan Geekie found the net for a fourth straight game, and John-Jason Peterka added a goal. Pavel Zacha extended his point streak to four games.
It got ugly fast. Nikita Zadorov and Mark Kastelic both dropped the gloves early, and Nikita Zadorov dropping the gloves set the tone for a physical day.
## PLACEHOLDER
Why Boston's fourth straight win belongs to Swayman
By the third period the penalty minutes counter had climbed to 88. Matthew Tkachuk was sent to the room with 8:08 left, and Jack Studley reported that Brady Tkachuk and Kastelic each received 10-minute misconducts with the Bruins up 4-1 and 5:29 to go.
Boston also lost Charlie McAvoy for a stretch after the Lundell punch, and Charlie McAvoy heading to the room was a real scare. He came back for the third.
With the game that scrambled, the Bruins needed a goalie who could keep his head. Swayman did. A Florida team chasing the game with a lot of anger and a lot of shots found him every time.
Boston Hockey Now summed it up as a fourth straight win in a fight-filled matinee.
Swayman was the difference today, and the Bruins will want that same calm in the crease when Montreal visits on Thursday.
Quick hits
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSAnthony Stolarz will start in goal tonight against the Devils, according to Leafs Latest. The Leafs are switching goalies, and he gets the call.
VEGAS KNIGHTSAdin Hill will start in goal tonight in Buffalo against Colten Ellis, RotoWire confirmed. Hill gets the Golden Knights' net on the road.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKSScott Powers reports the Blackhawks will place goalie Arvid Soderblom, 27, on waivers today. Nothing is official from the team yet, so watch for the confirmation.
WINNIPEG JETSErik Erlendsson reports Yanni Gourde has been activated off injured reserve and returns to the Lightning lineup tonight in Winnipeg. That's a boost for Tampa against the Jets.
COLORADO AVALANCHECorey Masisak just reported that Cale Makar left Avalanche practice in pain. There's no word yet on what it means, and Colorado fans will be watching for an update.
Latest Stories
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