Jeremy Swayman’s Performance and Key Moments in the Preseason Game
Jeremy Swayman faced some challenges during the second period but showed resilience by making crucial saves in the third period and overtime. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t secure a win in the shootout as the Philadelphia Flyers emerged victorious with a 3-2 win at TD Garden on Monday.
Bobby Brink was the standout player in the skills competition, scoring the only goal that helped the Flyers clinch the victory. Swayman improved as the game progressed, while David Pastrnak, who had missed the first few days of training camp due to knee tendinitis, appeared to be back to his usual form. The Boston Bruins scored goals from Sean Kuraly and Morgan Geekie.
Pastrnak contributed an assist and was plus-2, with six shot attempts (two on net) and four hits. He expressed his satisfaction with the game, saying, “It was fun to play hockey again.”
The first period remained scoreless, with the Bruins outshooting the Flyers 5-3. The best chance came from a wraparound attempt by Pastrnak, who was playing his first preseason game, but Daniel Vladar made a great pad stop.
In the second period, the Bruins seemed to take control, but a puck-handling mistake led to the Flyers taking the lead. Swayman, who was playing his first preseason game, lost the puck behind the net, allowing Bobby Brink to pass it to Tyson Foerster, who fed Noah Cates for the opening goal.
“I want to work on my puckhandling and got too cute. This is the time to do it,” said Swayman.
After the Bruins killed off a penalty, they tied the game when Pastrnak passed to Sean Kuraly, who redirected the shot over Vladar’s shoulder. However, the Bruins were unable to maintain their lead into the second intermission, as Rodrigo Abols scored a long-distance goal.
Swayman made several key stops in the third period, including a save on a partial breakaway by Alexis Gendron, which led to a counterattack and a goal by Morgan Geekie. In overtime, Swayman made critical saves, especially after a penalty, leading to the shootout. However, Brink was the only scorer in the skills competition.
John Beecher’s Improvement and Coach Marco Sturm’s Comments
During the morning skate, coach Marco Sturm praised John Beecher, a 2019 first-round pick who is still competing for a roster spot. Beecher performed well in his second game after struggling in his first game in New York. He capitalized on a Flyers mistake to score a goal and played a strong bottom-six game.
Sturm noted, “He had practiced the first three or four days and he had been good, but Game One was not his best probably. But I had a good chat with him and a good video session. He translated it into Game Two and was much better.”
Sturm also commended Michael DiPietro for his performance in the previous game, despite a poor showing in the preseason opener against Washington. DiPietro requires waivers to be sent to Providence, and there is no guarantee he will make it through.
Summary of Key Highlights
- Jeremy Swayman had a mixed performance, making key saves in the third period and overtime but failing to secure a win in the shootout.
- David Pastrnak returned to form, contributing an assist and showing strong physical play.
- Bobby Brink was the hero in the skills competition, scoring the winning goal for the Flyers.
- John Beecher improved significantly in his second game, helping himself in the battle for a roster spot.
- Michael DiPietro showed improvement after a rough start, providing stability in goal.
The game highlighted the importance of consistency and resilience, with both teams showcasing their strengths and areas for improvement.
