The Boston Bruins are in serious trouble in their first round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes. They lost both games on the road by a combined 10-3 score. That has prompted Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy to make a switch in goal. He revealed on Thursday that Boston is going to give the start to second-year goaltender Jeremy Swayman.
Jeremy Swayman gets the start in Game 3, per Bruce Cassidy
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) May 5, 2022
Swayman had a very good year in net for Boston this season. He finished the year 23-14-3 with a 2.41 goals against average and a .914 save percentage, to go along with three shutouts.
Swayman and Linus Ullmark essentially split starting duties throughout the regular season. But Boston obviously needs to switch something up against an opponent that has utterly dominated them all year long.
The Bruins defensively were the fourth best team in hockey this year. So, the hope is that Swayman can ride the home crowd's energy to shut down a Hurricanes offense. That got much more difficult though with the news that Bruins star defenseman Hampus Lindholm has been ruled out for Game 3.
Lindholm was rocked on a huge hit from Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov late in the second period. The hit left him sprawled out on the ice. He nearly fell over attempting to skate to the bench, looking as though he was concussed. Cassidy will have to make more defensive pairing adjustments as the series shifts to Boston.
On the flip side, the Hurricanes do not yet know if goalie Antti Raanta will be able to play in Game 3. Bruins forward David Pastrnak collided with him, leaving Raanta bloody and left the game for good in Game 2.
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