On Jan. 1, when coach Bruce Cassidy made his break-glass-in-case-of-emergency move to take David Pastrnak away from Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, the Bruins were not in playoff contention.
So from that perspective, the Bruins’ clinching of a playoff spot Saturday with a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh was not something to ignore.
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“We’re not going to go out and celebrate that we made the playoffs,” Cassidy said. “But it’s still an accomplishment you should be proud of. It’s not easy to do it year in and year out in this league. I can go to — and I shouldn’t say it yet — the New York Islanders, for example. Two Eastern Conference finals, Game 7s, right down to the wire. They almost need a miracle now to get in. So it’s not automatic. Things happen during the year. For us, it certainly didn’t look automatic in November.”
On the micro level, the Bruins stopped a three-game losing streak. On the macro level, the win was critical for Jeremy Swayman, for two reasons.
First, Linus Ullmark, his regular partner, was unavailable, courtesy of Erik Brannstrom’s deflected slapper off the mask Thursday. The Bruins required dependable puck-stopping from Swayman in Ullmark’s absence.
Second, Swayman had lost his last three decisions. He needed a win to pull himself out of his slump.
The Bruins did not allow much to the Penguins on Saturday. But when he was needed, Swayman (23 saves) stood tall. He played the puck well. He didn’t leave as much loose change lying around his net as he did in Thursday’s second period when he relieved Ullmark.
Swayman has submitted four straight high-quality periods in his bid to receive the playoffs’ Game 1 nod. He looked more like the hotshot from January and February who bricked up the net and made Tuukka Rask an afterthought.
“I felt good,” Swayman said. “It was one of those games where I wanted to make sure I was square to the puck, seeing it well and getting a little feel for it. I definitely took a lot of positives from today. Excited to move forward with it.”
Swayman played with swagger. It has not been an abundant commodity in his game.
The only puck that slipped his grasp was a second-period knuckler from Danton Heinen. The ex-Bruin took a drop pass from Teddy Blueger, then used his teammate as a screen. Swayman thought Heinen’s shot hit something on the way in. He did not see the puck until the last second.
The goal made it a 2-1 game. It could have shaken Swayman’s confidence. It did not. The rebounds he was pinballing everywhere in Thursday’s second period were under control.
Perhaps the only thing Swayman botched was his post-win celebration. He and Ullmark have perfected their hug routine. Swayman did not execute a chest bump with Troy Grosenick as cleanly.
Linus Ullmark is injured and did not dress for the Bruins today, meaning Jeremy Swayman didn't have his usual goalie hug partner.
Chest bump + a little self love
🎥 @NHLGIfspic.twitter.com/d2ukmlcplz
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) April 16, 2022
“I think he needed this as much as we did,” Cassidy said. “As a young guy, you don’t want to let it drag too long. Sometimes older guys can play through things not going their way and come out of it OK. Young guys, you’re never too sure, especially in that position. Good for him as a goalie to have a solid effort and a win.”
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Ullmark informed Cassidy on Saturday that he was feeling better. Whether Ullmark will be ready to practice Monday and travel with the team on its two-game trip remains to be seen.
If Ullmark continues to improve, he might not miss much time in his battle to claim the Game 1 net. It appears, though, that Swayman is pointed in the right direction in the same fight.
Trent Frederic bounces back
Trent Frederic was back against the Penguins after being a healthy scratch in the previous game. It did not take the No. 3 left wing long to prove his willingness to stay in uniform.
In the opening minute, Charlie Coyle lost an offensive-zone faceoff to Jeff Carter. But Frederic intercepted the following rim by racing to the left-side boards. He rapped the puck down the wall to Craig Smith. The No. 3 right wing walked the puck back up the boards, stopped at the hashmarks and fired a shot on net.
Casey DeSmith stopped Smith. But Frederic, who had driven to the net, was in the right spot to swat in the backhand rebound at 0:49 of the first.
It was just how Cassidy has told Frederic to play. Some of that had slipped in Frederic’s game, even before his untimely decision to peel off Colton Parayko’s helmet Tuesday against St. Louis. The Blues scored with Frederic in the box for roughing.
“He sat a game. Some guys don’t respond well,” Cassidy said. “They come back and they’re bitter, or whatever word you want to use. Freddy wasn’t that way. It was explained to him why. I thought he went out and practiced well yesterday. Got rewarded right away going to the right spot. I liked that Smitty attacked the net. That line was getting farther and farther away from the net. Smitty didn’t walk up any farther than he had to. He got good possession, collected the puck, saw a seam, got it to the net for a second chance. That’s how they’re effective, that line. We need more of that from them.”
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