TAMPA — Ever since he got here into the Nationwide Hockey League, Jeremy Swayman has not saved it a secret that he needed to drop the gloves at the very least as soon as in his profession.
On Sunday at Raymond James Stadium within the Bruins’ 6-5 shootout loss, with the entire hockey world watching, Swayman acquired his want.
He simply would have most well-liked to select his opponent somewhat extra judiciously.
Not solely was he giving up an inch and about 30 kilos to Andrei Vasilevskiy, he didn’t know that the Tampa goalie was a lefty. Swayman took a couple of extra photographs than he gave out earlier than dropping his stability, ending the transient tilt that had the whole stadium buzzing.
“Combating the largest, hardest goalie within the league in all probability wouldn’t be my first selection, however I acquired the primary one out of the way in which. I’ll in all probability retire after that,” stated Swayman, who admitted he was stunned by Vasilevskiy’s southpaw stance. “I’m glad we each had our first gig towards one another. A extremely worthy opponent.”
It began when Brandon Hagel jammed at a free puck in Swayman’s pads within the midst of the Lightning’s comeback within the second interval. Each Swayman and Charlie McAvoy knocked Hagel to the ice. Together with his counterpart concerned within the scrum, Vasilevskiy’s intuition was to skate towards the meat. Swayman needed to do away with Hagel’s stick that was tucked behind his left pad after which reminded Vasilevskiy to take off his masks earlier than the the 2 acquired it on.
“One of many largest moments for me personally,” stated Vasilevskiy, which implies somewhat one thing coming from a two-time Stanley Cup winner.
After the bout, Vasilevskiy patted Swayman on the facet of the pinnacle in a pleasant gesture.
“He needed to win and so did I. That’s sport respecting sport. We see fights each single sport and simply acquired that one out of the way in which,” stated Swayman.
After blowing a four-goal lead within the loss, the B’s locker room was a tad somber. However one of the simplest ways to lighten the temper was to ask in regards to the goalie combat. The gamers loved it as a lot because the followers.
Younger Matt Poitras lit up when requested in regards to the goalie combat.
“I’ve by no means seen something like that,” stated Poitras. “That’s in all probability the craziest sport I’ve ever been part of, to be trustworthy.”
David Pastrnak was seen leaping up and down on the bench because the combat was occurring.
“Yeah, it was enjoyable to see,” stated Pastrnak. “Clearly it was a hell of a sport for the followers and entertaining. Good for hockey. However for us as gamers, we left two huge factors right here, or one. Sadly we didn’t get it finished.”
It was not the form of sport that the dropping coach would take pleasure in a lot, however Marco Sturm might respect the worth in all of it.
“It was fairly entertaining, wasn’t it?” Sturm stated. “This sport had just about every thing, proper? Sadly, we’re on the unsuitable facet however what a begin. We down from the quickest aim towards in all probability (11 seconds in), come again, had the lead, they arrive again, goalie combat, what else would you like? General it was only a good present at present, Sway having the goalie combat. They hugged it our after the sport so every thing’s good.”
