The Alaska native has burst onto the scene over the last two weeks, helping to fill the void left by the absences of Tuukka Rask (upper-body injury) and Jaroslav Halak (COVID protocol). In five games with the big club, Swayman has posted a 4-1-0 record with a 1.78 goals against average and .938 save percentage.
"Very composed," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "He does have some of that Tuukka…that technically sound, composed guy that never looks out of control. Good to see. Good for him. A good kid who works hard. Both our young goaltenders [Swayman and Daniel Vladar] have really stepped up when we needed them. Good for those guys."
While Swayman only faced 25 shots on the night - including 10 in the first period - many of them were quality chances as the Islanders picked up five power play opportunities. But New York was held at bay thanks to strong penalty killing led by a number of stellar stops from the former fourth-round pick.
Among his most impressive stops: a right-shoulder save on a Michael Dal Colle's semi breakaway less than four minutes into the game, a denial of Anthony Beauvillier's shorthanded bid a few moments later, and an impressive combination shutdown of Kyle Palmeiri with his left toe at one side of the net and Beauvillier again with a lunging blocker save at the other in the closing minutes of the opening frame with the Isles on the power play.
"Really good early on. We didn't start on time like we did the other night. A little bit off," said Cassidy. "They had a couple of really good looks, got through the middle of the ice, ones where we missed some coverage. So, he had some really big stops early. Not a ton of quantity but real good quality saves.
"Then we found our game later in the first period…we came out in the second period and we were firing on all cylinders. Extended the lead with a nice play and obviously had more opportunities to do that. A solid third. But again, Swayman and the PK was excellent."
How much more opportunity Swayman gets the rest of the way is in question. With Rask returning on Thursday night without any ill effects and Halak likely to follow in the near future, Boston will have its dynamic goaltending duo back at its disposal.
And that is just fine with Swayman, who has relished the chance to learn from Rask.
"I get to watch one of the best goalies in the world every day at practice, that's Tuukka Rask," said Swayman. "I'm really fortunate to have a relationship with him now and learn from him every day. Just watching him and how he competes and sees pucks through screens. He's got some of the best edge work in the National Hockey League. It's fun to watch him. I've learned so much from him in the short time that I've been around him."
However things shake out down the stretch, Swayman will surely enjoy the ride.
"Shutouts are pretty hard to come by. It's a pretty special moment," said Swayman. "But again, I just try to focus on one game at a time. When you do get a shutout, it's one you can look back on and take a lot of good things from. Obviously, you did a lot of good things right. I want to make sure that I play my best every night. If I can learn from my past games, I will."