Swayman Earns EVERY PENNY in Win Over Wings + Where's Hagens?

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Saturday's win over the Detroit Red Wings was exactly what the Boston Bruins envisioned

two summers ago when they spent big money on a Liastling home, Nikita Zedorov, and especially

Jeremy Swieman.

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Today is Monday, March 23rd, and on this episode of Lockdown Boston Bruins, we are going

to break down Saturday's massive win over the Detroit Red Wings.

It was a game that proved Jeremy Swieman's worth to the Boston Bruins, and also demonstrated

why he belongs in the Vesna Trophy conversation.

We are going to break down the storylines, the stats, and the signals from that game,

as well as update the current playoff odds, do a James Hagen's update, and take a quick

look at what is coming up this week for our Boston Bruins.

But we have to start with Jeremy Swieman, who made 41 saves in Little Caesars Arena on Saturday

against a Detroit Red Wings team that was trying to keep pace with these Bruins in the

race for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Head coach Marco Stern, after the game, said that was the best he's ever seen Jeremy Swieman

play since he's been around.

He was unbelievable, and he won the game for the Boston Bruins.

For me, this was probably the first game of this season, in which I've actually experienced

some nerves and anxiety about the Boston Bruins' success.

Expectations were not high for this team.

They're in a playoff spot, and in order to hold onto that, they have to succeed on

the road down the stretch, which they have not done very well so far this season.

But Jeremy Swieman played one of the best games I've ever seen him play in this one,

and it really proved that he, A, deserves the big time contract that he signed two summers

ago.

You know, there was that prolongated stalemate.

He didn't play in training camp, didn't play in the exhibition season, didn't even

play in the season opener last year, and had a rough first season under this new contract.

But the way he's playing right now, it's almost as if he's a bargain at the $8.5 million

that he is being paid.

I've talked a lot this season about expected goals, and basically that is looking at, you

know, the shots that a goalie is facing, the scoring chances, and especially the high

danger chances, which come, like if you draw a home plate around the crease from within

that distance.

And there were several times on Saturday night watching that game where you expected to

find the puck in the back of the net, and Jeremy Swieman, whether it be with a blocker

or a pad or a stick or his skate, somehow managed to keep it out of the net.

That is what we talk about when we talk about goals saved above expected.

And he more than proved his worth to the Boston Bruins and proved that he is a top-tier

goalie in the national hockey league.

And if you look at a money puck, they have a stat called goals saved above expected.

And right now, Jeremy Swieman is second in the NHL in that stat.

That 27.1, only Logan Thompson of the Washington capitals is higher at 27.9.

And Swieman has jumped over Ilya Serokin of the New York Islanders, who's actually

got seven shutouts so far this season.

Probably your Vesna Trophy favorite at this point.

Swieman is above him at this point.

Logan in goals saved above expected.

Expected goals against for Jeremy Swieman.

He is second in the NHL in that stat.

153.14, just slightly behind, oh, not even slightly behind, yeah, behind Karel Vamelka

of the Utah mammoth, despite playing seven fewer games.

Global goals against, he has allowed 126.

So that is a huge jump in expected goals against versus actual goals against.

This guy has been unbelievable so far this season.

And if you don't think he's one of the best goalies in the NHL, if you don't think he's

worth what he's being paid by the Boston Bruins, that I really don't know what to tell

you because all you had to do was watch that game on Saturday and see time after time

where he kept the puck out of the net when you thought that the Detroit Red Wings were

going to either add to their lead or tie the game late after the Bruins had taken the

lead.

And the Bruins were actually down in this one in the third period.

And speaking of money seemingly well spent, you had two guys who the Bruins invested

big money in two summers ago, stepping up with the game tying goal and the game winning

goal in this one.

It was a Lies Lindholm who tied it to two at 622 of the third period, putting a low

wrist shot inside the far post for his 13th goal.

And then it was Nehita Zadorov looking like Bobbiura out there, streaking down into the

offensive zone and sniping it past John Gibson to make it three two, just about three

and a half minutes later.

It was only his second goal in 69 games this season and could not have come at a better

time.

This is exactly what the Bruins envisioned a couple summers ago, right?

They had beaten the Toronto Maple Leafs in round one of the playoffs.

They had pushed the Florida Panthers to six games in the second round.

And they went out, signed Lindholm, signed Zadorov with a view to being a tougher out in

the playoffs down the stretch in the regular season.

And it took some time for both players to acclimate themselves to the Bruins, the system

last year of course was very tumultuous with swimming struggling, coaching change, eventually

guys being traded out.

And now those two guys are really part of the secondary core of this team behind Swaman,

David Posternock and Charlie McAvoy.

And not to say they've played like this night in and night out this season because especially

lately, Lindholm has been iffy and that has led to him being demoted to the third line

despite being paid almost $8 million.

But could not have come at a better time, his 13th goal of the season, Zadorov, he plays

big, but he also takes a lot of penalties, that's been an issue for this team, but he stepped

up and you can tell that Zadorov especially really cares about getting this team back

to the Stanley Cup playoffs, I'm sure Lindholm does as well.

And those two guys signed with the Bruins with the intent of playing in the Stanley Cup

playoffs and trying to get this team back to the level at which it once was.

First season in Boston was as low as hopefully they will go or can go with this club.

And now here in this big game against the Detroit Red Wings in which there was like a 20%

swing on the line in terms of playoff odds.

Both of those guys stepped up huge as did Jeremy Swainman.

They weren't the only guys who contributed, of course, Morgan Geeky had three assists,

David Posternock had a goal and an assist, Eli Slintholm chipped in an assist as well.

The Bruins have points in five straight games and pulled two ahead of the Red Wings for

the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Bruins also have an opportunity to jump ahead of the Montreal Cadetians, the way

they put themselves in position here.

And another bright spot was the play of Lucas Reiko, his second game with the Boston Bruins.

He drew a penalty shot opportunity by blazing in with speed into the offensive zone, didn't

make good on it.

It wasn't the strongest penalty shot move I've ever seen.

But he's brought some skill, speed into the lineup and really helped jumpstart the offense

from that third line.

Marat Hustardinov scored the empty net goal to seal it and Jeremy Swainman just stood

as tall as could be in this one to steal the game for the Boston Bruins.

Now Detroit did look like they had scored near the end of the first period to take a one

nothing lead.

Thankfully it went into the back of the net after time had expired in the first period and

the Bruins were able to finish the job from there.

Who knows what could have happened if that goal had counted.

Huge game for the Bruins, huge win for Jeremy Swainman, one of the best games I've ever

seen him play and he's going to need to continue to play like that for the Bruins to get that

ex beside their names in the standings in advance to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

We'll take a look at some more of the stats and the signals from Saturday's game, James

Hagen's update, what's coming up this week, all that as this podcast continues.

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Boston Bruins big winners on Saturday night.

David Poschenok in this one recorded his 500th assist in the NHL in his 820th game.

The fourth fastest player in Bruins history, two 500 assists behind legends like Bobby

Orr, Phyllis Posito, and Ray Bork.

He's got 14 points on a nine game point streak, quietly putting this team on his back, 39

points in 33 career games against the Red Wings.

He also scored his 132nd power play goal and passed Patrice Bergeron for fourth most

in Bruins history.

I've mentioned this many times on the podcast, but David Poschenok on his current trajectory.

And if he's a lifelong Bruins fan, he could end up at the top of the list in many offensive

categories for this team all time, which is very impressive considering the legends who

have come in and out of this organization.

Jeremy Swayman again, he's the only goalie to beat the Red Wings three times this season.

And he just stepped up so big against the Red Wings in this one with those 41 saves.

It was the game that the Red Wings, you know, wildly outshot the Bruins.

It was 44, 27 Detroit had a shot advantage of 23 to seven in the third period alone.

And Jeremy Swayman stopped each and every one of them as the Bruins scored three unanswered

goals in the third to run away with this game.

Lindholm, Zedorov, Huston Dinov, really shot the door on the Red Wings.

Any comeback attempts in this one, all three of whom were not part of this team just

a couple of years ago, right?

The Bruins took the season series from the Red Wings winning three of the four games and

that could be crucial down the stretch here as the Bruins fight for a playoff spot.

And the Bruins have actually been one of the best teams in the NHL since the new year.

The Bruins around the holidays had lost six games in a row and they had to go to Edmonton

to take on the Oilers on New Year's Eve.

And since that time, they have the second best point percentage in the entire NHL over

the past 30 games.

19, 5 and 6, a 7, 33 point percentage, only the Buffalo Sabers are better over the past

couple of months since the end of, yeah, end of 2025, basically.

So that shows you how this team has the potential to not only make the playoffs, of course,

but to do something when they get there, especially if Jeremy Swaman is going to be playing

at this level.

Right now, the Bruins have 86 points with 12 games remaining.

They probably at least have to go 500 to get to a playoff spot.

That would give them 98 points, 100 points probably would do it.

Right now, the main competition is the Red Wings and the Bruins have the opportunity to

move up a little bit here as well.

If you look at the Atlantic Division, the Bruins are tied in points with the Montreal

Canadians, although Montreal has a game in hand on the Bruins.

The Bruins are only five points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning, unlikely that they would

catch them.

But it's possible that they could move into third place here in the Atlantic Division.

Their main competition remains the Detroit Red Wings.

If you look at the wildcard race, it's pretty much them.

You have the Ottawa Senators still kicking around.

They are five points back with the game in hand.

They're four points back of the New York Islanders with two games in hand there.

So it's possible they could more easily catch the Islanders who lost their top three spot

in the Atlantic or sorry in the Metro having been surpassed by the Columbus Blue Jackets

who are charging and could rise up to second in the Metropolitan Division.

So the Bruins have to hold off the Red Wings, but even if they're not able to, the Islanders

could still follow Senators, four points back, the flyers, five points back of the Islanders.

They are pretty much the only teams still in the mix.

And if we look at the updated playoff odds, again, a disparity between MoneyPuck as well

as the athletic rate for MoneyPuck, they run a simulation of the rest of the NHL season

100,000 times to create precise probabilities of the outcome of the season for each team.

Each game is simulated using the probabilities from the pre-game prediction model

discussed that they have below for games into the future.

The model scores are, you know, adjusted.

So the Bruins right now, according to MoneyPuck, have a 75.1% chance of making the Stanley Cup

playoffs. That's a head of Detroit who's at 57.9, the Islanders at 57.1, and the Senators

at 54.6. So by winning this game, they really set themselves apart from that main competition

right now. The Islanders are in the Wildcard spot, but they'll be fighting with Detroit

and Ottawa, while the Bruins are much more established as the playoff team, according

to MoneyPuck. The Athletic, not so friendly, they're at 51%, the Islanders are at 55%,

the Senators at 56%, the Red Wings still at 66%, the Penguins at 76, Blue Jackets at 84%.

So the Athletic much more or much less, I should say, optimistic about Boston's playoff chances,

that game against Detroit was massive, but they've got a couple of big ones coming up

this week, tomorrow night against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and then at Buffalo on Wednesday,

which would be a huge statement game, then they're off Thursday, Friday, host the Minnesota

Wild on Saturday, and then travel to Columbus for a game on Sunday. So that's two back-to-backs

this week, second of which is on the road, which is even less favorable, and against one of the top

teams in the Eastern Conference in the Buffalo Sabers, and a Columbus team that has really shot up,

I don't know where lately to become a pretty powerful team in the Eastern Conference.

We'll preview those games later on this week, of course, coming up, let's do a update on

why James Higgins has yet to sign with the Boston Bruins and what that could mean for the team,

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hour energy.com or Amazon. All right. So Boston College was eliminated from the NCAA hockey East

tournament by Yukon on Friday night. Making our marking and then to James Hagen's pretty successful

sophomore season. He led hockey East and scoring top 10 finalists for the Hobie Baker reward for

the best player in NCAA hockey. And you would think with his season being over that it would be

a pretty easy call to wrap up your college career and jump to the Boston Bruins signing an entry

level contract with the team to join the playoff pursuit. As of 9.41 am here on Monday morning that

has not happened as of yet. And if you saw the clip from 32 thoughts Elliott Freeman updated

the situation and it looks as though there's some question within the organization as to whether

Hagen's should make an immediate jump to the NHL or whether he should sign a minor league trial

contract and spend some time down with the Providence Bruins at any rate. He is ready to turn pro.

Right. This season he had 23 goals 47 points in 37 games not much left for him to prove at the

college hockey level. The assumption is he'd sign quickly. Saturday of course the Bruins were

in Detroit. Sunday they were off. So there should be some resolution to this as early as today.

Maybe it just means nothing. They were flying. They're going to be back together today practicing to

play against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday. If the Bruins take to practice today without him that might

mean something. Now it is a lot to ask and Don Sweeney or sorry Elliott Freeman made this point on

32 thoughts that there's some concern about taking a 19 year old and throwing him into the lion's den

in a very tight demanding playoff race. Look at a guy like Ryan Leonard who was Hagen's linemate last

year 8th overall pick in 2023. A couple seasons at Boston College, lead hockey East in goals as a

sophomore jumped onto the Washington capitals roster in April had one goal an empty netter was a

minus four in nine games and Leonard is like physically bigger than Hagen's right. You think he

would have been even more ready to make an impact. The Bruins may want to give Hagen some time in

the AHL to get used to playing against men before throwing him into the NHL lineup.

There are different paths for different prospects. You know Ryan DeNato, Charlie McAvoy took

different paths to the Boston Bruins. McAvoy played four games before he was called up, never return

to the HL. They may want to give him some time down in Providence to you know acclimate himself to

the program before taking that step up there. The Bruins though they could very much use Hagen's right

now. You look at Boston's 12 13 14 forwards and you cannot convince me that James Hagen's is not

one of the top 12 13 forwards that the Bruins can put out on the ice at this moment. I know that they

have found something with the second line. You're not touching that. The fourth line, they kind of

like but on the third line you've got a last-line home struggling alongside Morgan Yiki, the other

game notwithstanding Lucas Reiko. He's not necessarily a lock in that position at this point,

despite looking pretty good. You've got Marat Huston Dinov and Fraser Minton playing with David

Posternock. You can't tell me that couldn't be upgraded as well as they have been playing like

bringing Hagen's in just makes the crop of forwards that they can put on the ice on any given night

that much better. If it means bumping Huston Dinov down to the fourth line and sending Sean

Carallie out of the line up. I'm okay with that. If it means you know pushing Lucas Reiko for playing time

and giving Hagen's that third line spot so that Reiko has to earn it. I'm fine with that too. If it

means keeping Mikey Acymon and Alex D's on the sidelines, that's fine. If it means you need to rest

the last lino for the playoffs, put Hagen's on the center position on the third line with Morgan

and someone else more established. I'm fine with that. James Hagen's has the talent to play

for the Boston Bruins right now. This is not a team that is so stacked and loaded that they

can't find a place for the top prospect in the organization. Seventh overall pick at the 2025

draft and a kid who has played very well and definitely is pro ready. Very unlikely that he'd

want to go back to school. I'm sure that's not the conversation right now. It's probably

will the Bruins give me an opportunity to play in Boston right away or are they going to want me

to go to the AHL and is that giving me reason to pause before siding my entry level contract with

this team? I can kind of see the argument for wanting to protect your top prospect to ease

him into the pro ranks. But at the same time, you are clinging to a playoff spot and when we talk

earlier about goals saved above expected, they are scoring more than expected as well.

And there's a really good threat here in terms of the expected numbers versus the actual numbers.

The Bruins have 21.88 goals for above expected this season, which means there's a bit of luck

at play here when it comes to how they performed. They're scoring more than they should be scoring

based on the number of shots they're generating scoring chances that they're generating as well.

You could use an infusion of skill into this lineup and James Higgins will bring it.

So sign him, get him some practices, put him in the lineup as soon as you feel that he is ready.

That's my take on things. We will keep you updated as the day goes on in terms of whether or not he

does sign today. You're going to want to follow along on your favorite podcast app and on YouTube.

My subscribing to Lockdown Boston Bruins tomorrow will bring you all the latest on the Boston

Bruins. Hopefully talking more about James Higgins signing, previewing the Toronto Maple Leafs

game. So make sure you subscribe so you get all the latest information. You can find the podcast

on socials at Lockdown NHL Bruins, TikTok, Instagram, Threads, X. And if you've never missed an

episode, the Everyday Club is built for you. Get Lockdown Bruins at free plus members only

Discord access and more by heading to lockdownbrewins.supercast.com to join the club. Check out the 24-7

National Lockdown Podcast Network YouTube channel next. Make sure to listen to NHL Game Night

on the Lockdown NHL feed. It's all part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports

podcast network. Happy Monday friends, please take care of yourselves, take care of each other,

and we'll talk to you again here on the next episode of Lockdown Boston Bruins, your favorite team

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