"Pretty textbook. It was awesome," said Swayman, whose sister was in attendance. "Pretty cool being in the Garden for the first time knowing he was here when he was younger. Definitely a sentimental game for me. Coming out with one point isn't as satisfying so can't wait to come back and get two."
The 23-year-old certainly did his part, making 33 saves (plus five more in the shootout) to help the Bruins secure a point in a 2-1, nine-round shootout loss to the New York Rangers.
"It's good for him. Good for his confidence," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said of Swayman going head-to-head with Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin, the 26-year-old who has been one of the league's top netminders this season during his third full campaign in the NHL.
"Shesterkin's a young guy that's battled through now for a few years. Now it looks like he's certainly established himself. We don't see him that often, but I know his numbers certainly back that up. Obviously, our hope is to get Sway at that level at some point, and at a consistent level. Tonight, he certainly helped himself with that."
Swayman, fresh off a shutout of the Senators on Saturday afternoon, saw just two shots in the first period, but remained sharp as the Rangers pushed for the equalizer well into the third period. Even after allowing Filip Chytil to knot things up at 6:45 of the third on a second-effort rebound, Swayman - who acknowledged he'd like to have the initial save back - locked things down and held the Rangers off the board for six consecutive sets of the shootout before K'Andre Miller ended it in Round 9.
"His confidence, his quiet confidence, it gives us some," said Charlie Coyle, who potted Boston's lone goal just 3:39 into the game off a Craig Smith rebound. "When you have a goalie like that - yeah, he hasn't been here long, but he kind of plays like he has which is a great thing. It makes us in front of him…we can just play. We're not worried about who's back there."