By: Jason Cooke | Follow me on X @cookejournalism
It was right there for the taking. Entering Black Friday’s nationally televised clash against the Pittsburgh Penguins, everything was in line for the B’s to score their first goal of the third period at home since their home opener.
The Metropolitan-worst Pittsburgh Penguins, who entered TD Garden with a league-worst 95 goals allowed, housed goaltender Tristan Jarry (4.34 goals against average, .868 save percentage) between the pipes. If the Bruins were ever to light the lamp in crunch time again, it would have been Friday.
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One would have thought. Despite opening the scoring just 1:24 into the first period, the Bruins allowed their tenth non-empty net goal in the final two minutes of a period while failing to convert on a third-period power play to spoil a strong start from Jeremy Swayman (33 saves) to fall to the struggling Penguins, 2-1.
“Our guys are just in a situation where the puck is just not finding its way in, and we had our chances tonight again. But you have to execute still at a higher level in order to finish off your plays,” said Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco.
Boston’s goal came from Charlie Coyle on a slick setup from his linemates Trent Frederic and Tyler Johnson, but Pittsburgh tallies from Rickard Rakell and Philip Tomasino were all the Penguins needed to earn two points on Friday. Here’s what stood out from the loss:
Quick Start on Causeway
The Bruins didn’t wait around to open the scoring on Friday. Just 1:24 into the first period, Boston’s third line of Coyle, Frederic, and Johnson connected for a textbook tally to take an early 1-0 advantage.
Johnson dished an entry pass to Frederic, who found a trailing Coyle. A hesitated release to the bottom right corner fooled Jarry and made its way to the back of the netting. Only one Bruins goal was scored quicker into the opening frame this season, and it came on Wednesday over the Islanders when Brad Marchand lit the lamp 57 seconds into the period.
In a season where the Bruins have struggled to find twine, being able to score the first goal is huge for the B’s. When scoring first this season, the Bruins were 7-2-1 ahead of Friday’s matchup, according to the Boston Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont.
Swayman Getting Comfortable
If there were any doubts about the reliability of Swayman, those fears can probably be eased at this point. Swayman entered Friday with an unappealing 3.16 goals against average coupled with a .888 save percentage, but his recent starts have told a different story.
Swayman has looked sharp in his last two starts for Boston, allowing just one goal in each matchup. Theatrics surrounding Swayman’s contract negotiations sidelined Boston’s premier goaltender through training camp, and it looked as though that time away from the team was affecting his play.
But as of late, Swayman looks like the netminder the Bruins paid for just before the start of the 2024-25 season. He told reporters after Tuesday’s defeat to the Canucks that he went through a “mini training camp” with goalie coach Bob Essensa to get him up to game speed. That sentiment continues to ring true for Swayman after a 33-save performance on Black Friday.
“I think there’s been a lot of progress since the start of the year for me, in the practice reps and Bob and I getting to work has helped a lot,” said Swayman. “I know that when I stick to my process, I trust it, it rewards me every single time. It’s good to see that there are some really good things happening, and I know that I can keep growing my game.”
“I think he’s always pretty confident,” added Frederic postgame. “I think he’s had some tough bounces but he’s been playing good all year. I think he’s always very confident. He’s a really good goalie and I don’t think that changes if (his numbers are low). He’s done a great job.”
Swayman was sharp throughout Friday’s win, denying superstar Sidney Crosby on a partial breakaway to protect Boston’s early 1-0 lead. From there, Swayman stopped 11 more pucks in the period and was just as sharp in the middle frame. With 11:46 to play in the second, he flashed his glove on another breakaway to deny Anthony Beauvillier. Swayman, who has been at the top of his game as of late, isn’t getting discouraged by the lack of goal support.
“Just sticking to my process and understanding that I need to do whatever I can to help this team have a chance to win every single game,” said Swayman. “That’s what I want to do, is give them a chance. I know for a fact that we’re going to come through.”
Late-Period Struggles Continue
It’s plagued the Bruins all season, and it came with just 0.8 seconds left in the second period. The B’s were primed to carry a 1-0 lead to the dressing room, albeit against a statistically poor goaltender, but one slip of net-front coverage spoiled those plans and Swayman’s shutout.
Four Bruins skaters were clogged on the right side of the cage, leaving playmaking mastermind Crosby with time and space—probably not good for the Bruins. And as a result, Crosby found Rakell out front just in the nick of time. Instead, the Bruins entered the locker room on the receiving end of a tough blow.
Allowing a late goal isn’t new for the Bruins. Doing so with 0.8 seconds on the clock might be, but Boston has allowed ten goals (excluding empty-netters) in the final two minutes of a period this season according to 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Ty Anderson. Good teams tighten up in the final minutes of a stanza as allowing the opposition to gain any momentum into the ensuing period is certainly not ideal. The Penguins did just that, taking a 2-1 lead with 12:34 remaining in the third period on Tomasino’s first goal of the season that stood until the final buzzer.
“I don’t know, I can’t,” Frederic said when asked why the Bruins struggle to finish periods strong. “We did it last game, but then we responded well with a good third…I don’t really have an answer for that. I don’t know why that is. Maybe just timing is weird or unlucky.”
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