BOSTON — Jeremy Swayman has had rough patches before. The Bruins goalie was winless for four straight games in February last year. He gave up 15 goals over four games in March.
But those slumps didn’t come at the same time when the rest of the Boston roster was struggling. They didn’t come after he’d been anointed the team’s No. 1 goalie and they didnt’ come after he signed a contract for $66 million.
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His role, his salary and his team’s woes have put his current problems under a much brighter spotlight. Because Swayman hasn’t been shy about describing the goalie and teammate he wants to be, when he falls short it gets that much more attention and he knows it.
“The standard that I have myself held to is not met right now. That’s going to happen in our careers. I know that a lot of veteran guys that I’ve looked up to and followed have been through the ups and downs, and right now I’m in one,” Swayman said after giving up five goals in the Bruins’ 5-1 loss to Columbus on Monday. “I’m going to do whatever I can to get out of it. I know it’s going to be a really good feeling. What I can bring to the rink every day, what I can bring from home every day is going to compound and that’s when things are going to start going the right way. I know how to get out of it, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
What’s wrong and how does he shake it?
“I think there’s multiple reasons. I think there’s habits that I could be better at. There’s experiences that I could use to my advantage,” he said. “But, you know, tough times don’t last. Tough people do. So that’s my mindset. Tomorrow’s a new day. I’m going to win it.”
Swayman said he didn’t think missing training camp during his conduct standoff was a factor anymore.
“I’ve had enough time now to adapt and get back to things. I think the biggest thing that I lost out on was (being with) this group, and I’m really trying to engulf just being in a room again and being a leader. I want my play to speak for that. So I need to step up, and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.”
