The Boston Bruins fell in devastating fashion to the Los Angeles Kings, suffering a loss that could put their Stanley Cup Playoffsâ aspirations on the backburner. Still, goalie Jeremy Swayman didnât just stand by with his arms crossed. When push came to shove, the American netminder skated to center ice, ready to drop the gloves with opposing goalie Darcy Kuemper. However, the referees stepped in, much to the disappointment of fans both in the arena and around the NHL.
Swaymanâs performance was abysmal against the Kings, and itâs been yet another example of his concerning form during the 2024-25 NHL season. With each disastrous showing, more fingers point at the organizationâs decision to keep Swayman while trading away Linus Ullmark during the offseason.
During the 7-2 loss to Los Angeles, Swayman surrendered seven goals on 23 shots, finishing with a rough .696 save percentage. However, the blame for the defeat canât fall solely on him, as the Bruins managed just 13 shots on Kuemper all game. Perhaps if the officials had let the two goalies drop the gloves, Swayman couldâve given Kuemper something else to worry about.
With less than six minutes left in the second period, the Bruins trailed 3-2 when a scrum broke out in front of the Kingsâ crease. Marat Khusnutdinov collided with Darcy Kuemper, prompting the goaltender to retaliate. Jeremy Swayman wasnât about to let the hit on his teammate slide.
Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Los Angeles Kings tends the net against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at the United Center on March 20, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
However, to the fansâ dismay, NHL officials stepped in before either goalie could throw a punch, Swayman made his stance clear after the game, sending a firm warning to Kuemperâand to anyone who dares mess with a Bruins player.
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âHe touched one of my guys. Itâs something that Iâm not gonna accept,â Swayman stated postgame, via NESN. âI think it just comes down to sticking up for my teammates. I donât care who it is. Itâs a guy in Black and Gold. Youâre not gonna touch him without getting contested and I care about every one of these guys like a brother. Thatâs just the way I felt and I felt like it was my turn to step up.â
Rough stretch
The Bruins are mired in a heartcrushing losing slump, dragging a six-game winless drought, with only one point during the soul-stomping stretch. Swaymanâs numbers have been exasperating over his latest outings, underlining one focal issue of concern on the team.
During his last four starts, Swayman has a 0-4-0 record, with an awful .815 SV% average. Perhaps the most concerning stat, is the fact that the Bruinsâ starting goalie allowed an average of 6.00 goals against. According to Bruin Something host Michael Sullivan, no other NHL goalie has worse numbers than Swayman during this span of games.
Jeremy Swayman #1 of the Boston Bruins looks on against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on January 02, 2025 in New York City.
No games and fun
The crestfallen Bruins will vie to get back in the win column during their visit to the Anaheim Ducks on March 26. Though the team will have plenty of leisure time in California, itâs safe to say the locker room is not in the mood for rides, sudden drops, and castle visits. The Bruinsâ season has been a rollercoaster of its own, and thereâs nothing the players would love more than for the ride to reach its final stop, finally offering relief to their spinning heads.
