The Boston Bruins will start goaltender Jeremy Swayman on Thursday night when they host the Montreal Canadiens in a matchup that carries first place in the Atlantic Division.
Boston enters with 27 points after an 18-game stretch that has produced a 13-4-1 record. Montreal sits one point back with 26 points on an 11-3-4 mark. Thursday’s game at TD Garden marks the first of four meetings between the Original Six rivals this season.
Swayman has posted a 9-3-1 record with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage through 13 appearances. He has one shutout and has faced 362 shots, stopping 333 of them. The 27-year-old has started every game he has played this season.
His most recent outing came Sunday against the Florida Panthers. Swayman turned aside 41 of 42 shots in a 4-1 victory that extended Boston’s winning streak to four games. It marked a season-high in saves for the netminder.
After that performance, Swayman described a straightforward approach in net.
“I think the biggest thing is, they do their job and I do mine,” Swayman said. “I just focus on one shot at a time, what comes my way whenever it comes and try to get in front of it.”
The Bruins have won seven straight games at home and hold an 8-1-0 record on their own ice. Montreal has collected points in 11 consecutive games overall and is 6-1-1 on the road this season. The Canadiens average 3.44 goals per game while the Bruins have allowed 2.28 goals per contest, ranking near the top of the league in defensive efficiency.
Frederic Brunet will face his hometown team for the first time in his NHL career. The 23-year-old defenseman from the Gatineau area of Quebec was selected by Boston in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. He has five points in 12 games this season while skating on the third defensive pair.
Brunet spoke about the personal significance of the matchup ahead of the game.
“It’s going to be special. It’s the team I grew up watching, and to have the chance to play against them tonight, it’s going to be a pretty special moment,” Brunet said.
“I know it’s a big thing. The boys have been saying a little bit it’s going to look like Florida. It’s a division game, one of our biggest rivals, so you’ve got to be ready, so it’s a big game for us…I’m with the Bruins now, so the only thing I want to do is beat them. But it’s crazy how fast things turn around.”
Boston has scored 68 goals this season while allowing 41. Montreal has scored 62 and allowed 55. The Bruins rank among the league leaders in goal differential. Both clubs enter the night with active streaks, and the outcome will determine which team holds the division’s top spot heading into the weekend.
The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern at TD Garden. Boston will wear its new Hometown Remix uniforms for the first time. The teams split their four meetings last season.
