Bruins Grind Past Penguins, Swayman DOMINATES for Playoff Push

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Make no mistake, Jeremy Swaman was the reason why the Boston Bruins won last night against

the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In the midst of Boston, maybe learning that some of their assets ahead of the trade deadline

aren't as valuable as they may believe.

Your Lockdown Bruins, your daily podcast on the Boston Bruins, part of the Lockdown

Podcast Network, your team every day.

What is up Bruins fans and welcome back to the Lockdown Boston Bruins podcast, part

of the Lockdown Podcast Network, now the number one sports podcast network.

I'm your host, Ian McLaren, I am a lifelong Boston Bruins fan, and I've been covering

this team and the NHL for various outlets for nearly 20 years.

Today is Wednesday March 4th, and on today's episode of Lockdown Boston Bruins, we are

going to discuss the storylines, the stats, and the signals from last night's win over

the Pittsburgh Penguins.

What it means for the Bruins, their playoff standing, and with one game remaining until

the trade deadline, which is set for March 6th, which is Friday, 3 p.m. Eastern, we're

going to discuss sound rumblings around Conor Garland of the Vancouver Canucks, new defense

men whose name has popped up on socials this morning that I would be very interested

in, as well as what Flutosh and Zawa of the Athletic is hearing about the value for

Matt Pochra and Mason Lorai, may not be quite as high as we would expect, and may not

fetch the kind of players that the Bruins are looking to add before Friday's deadline.

But let's start with last night's game where the Bruins brought forth a gritty effort,

some tight defensive play, and ultimately some unbelievable goal tending from Jeremy Swaman.

In a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday at TD Garden, Swaman made 34 saves,

and backstopped his team to their 11th consecutive home victory, earning another two points

in a very tight Eastern conference playoff race and head coach, Marco Stern said, Swaman

was the reason the Bruins won that game last night.

He got off to a bit of a rocky start, shades of Milan as Eric Carlson, got the Penguins

on the board, 42 seconds into the game with a slap shot from distance, maybe one that

Swaman should have had, and reminiscent of that goal that was scored on him at the Olympics

from like center ice.

But the Bruins were able to get enough offensive support for Swaman before the end of the

first period, as Marad Hustner-Dinov scored his 13th of the season to make it 1-1, and

then the game winner was scored shortly thereafter by Casey Middlestad.

And that was all the Bruins needed.

Jeremy Swaman shut the door from there, all the goals in this game were scored within

the first six minutes of the game, and then Swaman took it from there.

The Hustner-Dinov goal came from a Fraser-Minton battle along the boards.

He popped it over to Mikey Acymot, who got it to Hussie in the right circle and the 23

year old ripped it home at about five minutes and 10 seconds of the first period.

Acymot, who's been in and out of the lineup lately, said he's feeling really good, feeling

joyous even out there playing, doing his best to fit into his role here on the team, has

always been easy.

He said, but he hopes everyone sees how hard he's trying to fit in there, feeling more

and more comfortable, and he really could be a guy that could be moved out before the

deadline, with some teams looking to add some depth and scoring to their lineups as well

as just those versatile guys who can play up and down the lineup.

Less than a minute later, Casey Middlestad put the Bruins ahead, grinding shift from

the second line, Zaka retrieved the puck down low, Middlestad dished to Nikita Zadorov,

and then Middlestad knocked in the rebound to make it to one his 13th goal of the season

third in six games.

Middlestad after the game said, not the prettiest game they've played all year, but you could

tell that the fight and the want to win was there.

We're sacrificing themselves, winning battles, sway making big saves, and fun to be part

of a team that's putting its body on the line and doing whatever it takes.

And that's the kind of hockey that will get you into the Stanley Cup playoffs and perhaps

some measure of success when you get there if you're playing that kind of way.

And one of the big things that was a key improvement last night for the Bruins was the penalty

kill.

Going four for four against the third best power play in the league.

Now for some context there, Sydney Crosby leads this team in power play goals with 10.

He's currently out of the lineup.

So if you look at their power play without Crosby, it probably wouldn't be the third ranked

in the league, but still they have some guys who can hurt you, Eric Carlson, of Gennie

Malkin, etc.

The PK has been a point of emphasis for the Bruins during their practice over the past two

weeks.

And it's gone seven for seven since returning from the Olympic break.

Hempers Lindholm credited assistant coach Chris Kelly for coming in with some good energy,

helping them out, putting them in good spots to succeed.

And obviously it helps when he have Swamon and Corpus Sallow playing the way they've been

playing lately.

Those Lindholm added they've been playing through some adversity this year, people doubting

them and they still do.

But they have quiet confidence in the room, just trying to get out there and play for

each other.

When you have goalies and everyone buying in, it's fun to be part of.

And that buy in certainly has to be there on the penalty kill when it requires that extra

effort, putting your body on the line, getting the lanes, blocking shots, etc.

And you can see that extra effort from a guy like Casey Middlestad who earlier this

season had his effort and compete level criticized or called out by, I believe it was Craig

Button on TSN who said he just did not have that dog in him basically.

And Middlestad last night he was out there in the dying minutes with the penguins goalie

pulled to her skinner, lost his stick, but was still able to get the puck out of the

Bruins zone using his skates.

And that just shows the kind of extra effort that the Bruins are willing to put in.

Swaman made some key stops in those final moments as the Bruins protected their one goal

lead.

And he earned the first star of the game in front of a very thankful TD Garden crowd.

He said it's really fun to come to the ring these days.

He understands they have a real chance at their ultimate goal, which is to get back to

the playoffs, compete for the Stanley Cup.

That's something that we can really rally around this time of year, he said we get through

this week.

We know that we're pushing together all for each other and obviously for this incredible

fan base.

And by through this week, he means the upcoming trade deadline, the uncertainty surrounding

that not sure who's going to be part of the team come Saturday.

There could be some guys being moved out, there could be some new faces coming in among

those who could be moved out is Andrew Peek, who got a look last night for the first

time coming out of the break.

Perhaps as a bit of a showcase, he's a pending unrestricted free agent could be moved

before Friday's deadline.

You've got Sean Caralli, Mikey Acymott, who are unrestricted free agents next summer,

but who have pretty reasonable contracts and teams could be looking to add them as depth

players.

The big fish in Casey Middlestad, Palozaka, who are UFA's next summer, really looking

like they could be guys that stick around and become meaningful contributors or remain

meaningful contributors for this team moving forward.

There's also Victor Irvitzin pending unrestricted free agent who does have no move protection,

cannot be traded, sent to the minors are waived without player approval.

He had a glorious chance to ice it last night with an empty net hit the post, but you

could tell the way he was kind of reacting on the bench with the guys like they like

having him around so I wouldn't be surprised if he sticks with the Bruins for the balance

of the season as kind of an internal rental.

So those are the kind of key story lines from last night's game coming up we are going

to touch on some more stats signals what it means for the Bruins in the playoff race

and with the trade deadline approaching we'll also touch on some of the latest with regards

to Bruins rumors reports and perceived value for a couple of key trade candidates in

Matt Pochra and Mason Lorai.

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I've already looked at some of the key stats from last night's game namely swamens

34 saves the penalty kill going for for four against the third ranked power plate in

the NHL albeit without Sydney cross the at their disposal how to things shape up overall

well at five on five the Bruins had 51.3% of the shot attempts the shots were 26 25 in

favor of the Bruins scoring chances were 28 23 in favor of the Bruins high danger chances

were 12 11 so it was pretty even when it comes to five on five play in all situations

last night the Bruins had a slight advantage in shot attempts 50.7% the penguins had the

lion share of the shots though 35 28 and that shows you how big the penalty kill was at five

on five the penguins had 23 shots and then in all situations they had 35 scoring chances

were slightly in favor of the Bruins as we're high danger chances but because of those penalties

that the Bruins took the penguins had 4.45 expected goals and the Bruins had 3.75 so another

instance where the Bruins expected goals were or the oppositions expected goals were much higher

than what actually happened so that's that's golden the thing was last night by all measures

should have scored about at least four goals based on the penalty killing or the power plays

opportunities they got the the high danger chances the scoring chances added all up out shooting

the Bruins 35 28 and that shows you how important Jeremy Swaman was there in terms of

shutting down and you know being that last line of defense to help the Bruins come out of this one

with a big two points because you look at the NHL standings and they remain incredibly tight

in the Eastern Conference let's just update the look at money puck in terms of their playoff

meter as well as a look at the overall standings in the NHL and it's just incredibly tight right

now with the win last night the Bruins improved to 34 21 and 5 they've got 73 points and they remain

three points up on a Columbus Blue Jacket team they beat thankfully last week or it would be

much tighter they've won two in a row since losing to the Bruins they have three points back of Boston

the Washington capitals are four points back they've played three more games though so that's a

distinct advantage for them the senators lost in Edmonton last night but they are six points back

the flyers have won three in a row including a game against the Bruins on the weekend they are also

six points back the Leafs Panthers nine ten points back respectively with about 21 22 games

remaining on the schedule that's going to be probably too big of a hill to climb for those teams

if you look at the playoff odds via money puck right now thanks to last night's win the Bruins are

at 62.8 percent which is actually pretty good like almost two thirds of the odds are in favor of

the Bruins making the Stanley Cup playoffs now still a long way to go right the Bruins have

how many games remaining 22 games remaining and point percentage wise they're in a pretty good spot

there's six points up on the senators in the Atlantic division when it comes to the

Eastern Conference they are eighth in point percentage as well eighth in total points gold

differential though they're actually fifth so you can tell they're playing playing pretty well

well enough to make the playoffs can they move up well possibly there are only two points back

of the Montreal Canadians for the first wildcard spot there's three points back of the Red Wings for

the third spot in the East or sorry in the Atlantic division although that would mean

going up against the Red Hot Buffalo Sabers and they are seven points back of the Tampa Bay

lighting so maybe they catch Detroit maybe they're able to sneak in in the first wildcard spot

but the priority right now is to grab a playoff spot Don Swini said that the other day that is the

goal for the Boston Bruins that has always been the goal last year things went way off the rails

and that's why they decided to you know call it sending the um or send some guys out

sell off and and move on now the Bruins are back in playoff contention they're fairly healthy

and playing at high levels David Postrak some people have suggested that he doesn't look quite

quite himself perhaps there's something bothering him there but at the end of the day the Bruins

are in position to make the playoffs and they should very much remain in the mix here as we head

down the stretch now I should add that while money puck has the Bruins at 62.8% chance of making

the playoffs the athletic not as favorable the Bruins are at 41% chance of making the playoffs

and they in fact have the blue jackets above them at 51% they have um who else is above them who's

kind of out of the mix the senators above them at 44% so if you look at and they really take into

account those kind of underlying numbers shot metrics expected goals according to the athletic the

Bruins have a 41% chance which is not what money puck tells us they're at 62% the islanders

blue jackets senators all with better chances of making the playoffs than the

Bruins at this point according to the athletic so the job is not done they still have and as

Hempers Lindholm alluded to earlier when I was quoting him people have doubted them all sees along

the underlying numbers suggest they still have some work to do if you look at the important metrics

in terms of well let's go expected goals five on five the Bruins 28th in the or 27th in the NHL

at 46.3% if you look at even shot attempts or shots differential the Bruins are 21st if you look at

um scoring chances the Bruins are 22nd if you look at high danger chances this is all at five on five

the Bruins are 28th so they're not they're not generating the kind of sustained offensive pressure that

you would expect from a playoff type club but at five on five they're getting the scoring they rank

sixth in terms of shooting percentage and in safe percentage they are also sixth or seventh I

should say so while the underlying numbers don't really support success for the Bruins this season

like defensively or even offensively they're still getting the production and that's ultimately

what matters you can track expected this or that until the cows come home but it's about what has

actually been achieved they're in a position to fight for a playoff spot and that they will

continue to do perhaps with some reinforcements here come the trade deadline we'll talk about some

of the latest rumors and reports as well as the perceived value for lora and potra here as the

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so there was a report last night I believe from Dave Pagnata of the fourth period suggesting that

the Bruins are back in on Connor Garland from the Vancouver canucks and that a trade could

involve either mason lorae and or mat potra so the possibility there is that both of those guys

could be floated in a deal to get Connor Garland Garland of course is 29 years old and he's got a

no movement clause that kicks in next season when a new six million dollar AAV contract kicks in

which will carry through the next six years so he signed an extension with the canucks it hasn't

even kicked in yet he'll be under contract at six million for the next six years and so far

this season he's only got seven goals 19 assists in 49 games for a total of 26 points

now why would it maybe require both of those guys well flutusian zawa of the athletic

wrote this morning a piece called what i'm hearing about mat potra and mason lorae's value

potra of course made the Bruins at 19 and he looked like a future second line center for

this team he had some growing pains a shoulder injury sent back to providence where he is number six

in scoring for the baby Bruins right now with 31 points in 49 games they recall them for three games

in January and you know he had a very nice goal against Tampa Bay but apparently some around the

league have noticed the steady lack of you know upward momentum for his progress according to an

NHL director of amateur scouting anonymous word maybe out that potra is no longer a sure thing

and if the Bruins this is according to fluto consider him more of a trade asset than a keeper

a one-for-one return would not necessarily improve this team's playoff push this director said

i wouldn't trade for him personally if they can recoup a second that's a win uh the Bruins of course

have liceland home palazacca phrasier minton shankarali as centers right now potra still learning to

play a bit off the puck and whether he becomes a center who can game stirms full trust is not known

his entry level contract expires after this season and it's not just the guys in front of him

there's also some players behind him that will be pushing as well including James Higgins

Dean latorno and regasso all at Boston college they all have different skill sets

but it could be that potra serves the Bruins better in a deal fluto writes well given his trade

value he would not necessarily bring back an NHL or who could help the current roster

swini wants to add to the group if potra goes on his own the gm might flip the return for an NHL

player or potra could be part of a package so say the Bruins trade him for second or third

round pick they could package that to get some help or as was suggested in that garland report

maybe he's packaged alongside in mason lore i the director of scouting estimated a third round

pick to be the left shot defenseman's trade value potra was trending upward early in his career

defending never his strengths but he held his ground well enough for his coaches to let him

do his thing out offense he led the team in scoring from the blue line with 33 points last season

with Lindholm and McAvoy out of the lineup he started this season on the top pair with charlie

McAvoy but Jonathan aspero came out of nowhere to be a better top fit with McAvoy he has played

much better lately on the right side with hammers Lindholm to his credit and he's 25 years old

signed through 2027 at $3.2 million per season they also have Jordan Harris in the mix and

Drapeque still around Frederick Brunei leads the Providence defense with 27 points in 52 games

could be kind of an internal replacement all that to say like if you hear or see reports involving

potra lore i'd like you can't expect i guess the Bruins to be able to get much in return

for one of those guys singularly now parallel brun this morning tweeted that

it's going to be interesting to see what happens on the Simon Nematch front devils are taking calls

on the second overall pick from 2022 no shortage of teams checking in new jersey happy to keep him

but if there's a deal that upgrades their forwards in a real way they're going to entertain it

they're going to listen is Matt potra that guy is potra plus lore i enough to get Simon Nematch

that is a guy that fits perfectly with what the Bruins want to do here get younger get better

add on the right side of the defense Simon Nematch has sparkling career ahead of him i very

much believe that i've got him in my salary cap fantasy league he's really played much better this

season nine goals 12 assists for 21 points in 47 games and he's the kind of guy that could be a

difference maker for the Bruins on the blue line maybe you are able to send a map potra plus

Mason lore i to the devils i don't know if that's enough to get it done quite honestly but at the

very least you have to call you have to be among the guys that are calling the new jersey devils

in order to try to get Simon Nematch out of new jersey because he's that kind of talent that

could really make a difference elsewhere there's talk of Sir Gabriel Brovsky being traded from

the Florida Panthers who are pretty much out of it talks between the blues and the Buffalo

Savers involving Robert Thomas appear to have quieted down a bit uh Jordan Binnington could be

in the trade mix Colton Paraco is a guy that the Bruins could be looking at there's so much going

on right now that you're just going to want to keep it locked too locked on Boston Bruins because

um yeah anytime there's a trade for the Bruins or a serious report out there i'll be posting a

short getting it out there discussing it uh because that's what we do here on the locked on Boston

Bruins podcast part of the locked on podcast network your team every day right now the Bruins

again projected to not make the playoffs via the athletic they are projected to make the playoffs

via money puck so depending on who you trust there the reality is there's 21 games left and

the Bruins have a lot of work to do including beating the national predators

tomorrow night in the final game before the trade deadline i should have mentioned Andrew Peak

he had been scratched uh the last couple games he came back played last night

18 minutes well paired with Nikita Zidorov credited with four hits

Marco Stern said he liked his game played hard did exactly what we want him to do did a good job

whether it was a showcase for a potential trade or just integrating him back into the lineup

remains to be seen but that's something to keep an eye on certainly as well the Bruins could

free up some cap space by moving peak and bori if you bring in damage that's an ELC contract so

they'd still have some money uh freed up for another move as well i'm very excited about the

trade deadline you're gonna want to subscribe on your favorite podcast app and on youtube because

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