Bruins coach thinks Jeremy Swayman in Maple Leafs’ heads

TORONTO — Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery thinks goaltender Jeremy Swayman‘s dominance in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs — earlier than and through their present first-round Stanley Cup playoff collection — has began to rattle some gamers.

Montgomery made that suggestion in reference to an incident late in Boston’s 4-2 victory over the Leafs in Game 3 on Wednesday, when Toronto ahead Max Domi appeared to hunt out Swayman — proprietor of a 5-0-0 file versus the Leafs this season — throughout a TV timeout.

“Normally, I don’t think that [a goalie has one team’s number],” Montgomery mentioned Thursday. “But when Domi goes off the bench and bumps [Swayman] on purpose, makes me think that maybe he’s in their head a little bit.”

Boston ahead Trent Frederic — who acquired the Bruins on the board with a first-period aim in Game 3 — noticed the interplay between Domi and Swayman, too. He agreed with Montgomery it may need revealed some mounting exasperation from the Leafs over Swayman’s latest success.

“Maybe Sway is getting in their head; he’s making a lot of saves,” Frederic mentioned. “So, bump our goalies. I don’t know, didn’t work [for them] last night.”

That was in the end true. Despite any on-ice antics, Swayman downed Toronto as soon as once more with a 28-save efficiency in Game 3 to provide Boston a 2-1 collection lead. Swayman beforehand made 35 stops in the Bruins’ 5-1 victory in Game 1, after which was changed by Linus Ullmark in Game 2 (a 3-2 Bruins loss).

Toronto had higher outcomes in opposition to Ullmark, however the Leafs nonetheless have not managed greater than three targets in a sport thus far this postseason. It’s a troubling development that pre-dates dealing with Swayman and the Bruins (Toronto’s truly gone 10 consecutive playoff video games scoring three or fewer targets) and people struggles have been magnified this time round by their lifeless energy play (1-for-11) failing to fireplace in this collection both.

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe refuted the Bruins’ narrative although that their goaltender was one way or the other throwing Toronto off its sport. In Keefe’s thoughts, the Domi bump was simply half and parcel of this time of yr.

“It’s playoff hockey, and things are happening all over the ice,” mentioned Keefe. “With that logic [from Montgomery] you would say every time they bump into one of our guys maybe we’re in their heads”

Keefe additionally mentioned he sensed “zero frustration” from his group over the low scoring output. The Leafs have generated their probabilities in opposition to Boston, averaging the third-most photographs on aim per sport in the postseason (33), however they’re additionally tied for the fewest targets per sport (two).

Toronto’s offensive prospects can be helped by the return of ahead William Nylander. The Leafs’ 40-goal scorer in the common season has missed the primary three video games of their collection as a consequence of an undisclosed damage. Keefe was requested once more on Thursday about Nylander’s thriller ailment and wouldn’t affirm experiences that the winger is coping with migraines. Keefe did say the additional day of relaxation earlier than Game 4 on Saturday does profit Nylander although, who’s been labeled as a game-time determination twice already in the playoffs.

“We’ve been working with Willy to give him the time that he needs to be ready to play,” mentioned Keefe. “And the medical team works with him on a daily basis to see where he’s at and continue to assess that.”

As for who Toronto can anticipate to see in Boston’s crease for Game 4, that is one other thoughts sport of its personal. The Bruins have religiously rotated Swayman and Ullmark for practically 30 video games, courting again to February. Swayman mentioned after Wednesday’s win that for him, “I don’t want rest; I just want to keep playing.”

The ultimate determination will fall to Montgomery, who wasn’t saying whether or not Boston would stick to Swayman.

“Both goalies have been so good for us,” mentioned Montgomery. “It’s a hard decision.”