Bruins
“I’m going to give him his flowers.”
Former Canadiens defenseman and current ESPN analyst P.K. Subban was skeptical of the Bruins’ playoff hopes this spring — especially with Jeremy Swayman in net.
But just five games into Boston’s latest Stanley Cup campaign, Subban is apparently changing his tune on one of the Bruins’ netminders.
Speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday, Subban tipped his hat to Swayman, who has helped the Bruins push the Maple Leafs to the brink of elimination in their first-round matchup.
“I’m going to give him his flowers. … Swayman, yes, I have not given him enough credit as a goaltender,” Subban said. “I wasn’t sold on the tandem. I like the No. 1 goaltender. I like the guy that rides. … But Swayman’s playing out of his mind right now.”
Swayman has been nothing short of dominant so far during this series against Toronto, winning all three of his starts while posting a .956 save percentage. The 25-year-old netminder is 6-0-0 against Toronto during the 2023-24 season with a .957 save percentage.
After alternating between Swayman and Linus Ullmark for 28 straight games from February through April, the Bruins split from their rotation and went with Swayman for a second-straight start in Game 4 against Toronto. He stopped 24 of 25 shots in Boston’s 3-1 win.
“If (Swayman) continues to do that, the Boston Bruins, the sky’s the limit for that team,” Subban said. “Because we know they can play defense, their power play is clicking like crazy — they made Toronto’s power play look like a Junior B power play this series so far.
“Boston’s got all the intangibles. And by the way, if Swayman falters, it’s Ullmark going back in there. Boston’s looking great right now. Can’t lie about that.”
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