Jeremy Swayman
As the NHL regular season winds down, Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman likely will get three chances at pocketing a career high for wins after he tied his best production with Saturday’s 3-2 shootout win at Washington.
The 25-year-old from Anchorage seized his 24th victory of the season – that matches his career high set last season – by stopping 18 of 20 shots in 65 minutes, then denying three of five shooters in the skills competition.
Swayman’s work included killing a four-minute Capitals power play in overtime.
At 24-8-8, Swayman ranks fourth on the circuit in save percentage (.916) and eighth in goals-against average (2.56). He’s been better than hug-buddy Linus Ullmark, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, for much of the season, but Ullmark has been sharper than Swayman of late.
How those two, who generally alternate starts, perform down the stretch – the Bruins enter Tuesday night with seven games remaining – will likely determine who coach Jim Montgomery decides is his No. 1 goalie for the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Ullmark was scheduled to start Tuesday night’s game at scorching-hot Nashville and Swayman’s next start is likely Thursday night at Carolina.
Isaiah Saville
One step down in the American Hockey League, Henderson Silver Knights goalie Isaiah Saville of Anchorage stopped 33 shots in a 3-2 loss to Coachella Valley on Saturday night to absorb his fifth straight defeat. Still, he’s been sharp in his last two starts with a 2.56 goals-against average and .919 save percentage.
Saville is 6-12-1, 3.20, .893.
Down in the ECHL, Savannah Ghost Pirates goalie Michael Bullion on Saturday night made his first appearance in nearly a month and did not miss a beat.
Bullion racked 18 saves and was named first star of the game in a 5-0 win over Orlando that marked his team-record third shutout of the season. Granted, this is only the Ghost Pirates’ second season of existence; still a shutout record for Bullion.
Bullion has won three straight starts – Saturday was his first action in 27 days – and only permitted four goals in that stretch. He has generated a 1.33 goals-against average and .958 save percentage in that span.
Michael Bullion
Overall, Bullion is 13-9-3 – strong for a team that’s six games below .500 – with a 2.81 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.
Enough about the pro goalies – let’s catch up with some play-for-pay forwards.
Indy Fuel winger Cam Hausinger of Anchorage bagged his seventh goal of the ECHL season in Friday’s 4-3 overtime win at Fort Wayne.
In the Southern Professional Hockey League, Birmingham Bulls forward Drake Glover of Anchorage furnished the primary assist on the game-winning goal in Friday’s 3-1 win over Macon to run his point streak to three games (1-3—4).
With 32-26—58 scoring totals in 53 games – all those are career highs – Glover is tied for the league lead in goals and tied for third in points. He also leads the league in plus-minus at plus-31. Glover this season has delivered eight point streaks of three games or more and four streaks of five games or more.
Meanwhile Peoria Rivermen winger Cayden Cahill of Anchorage scored a goal in Friday’s 2-1 win at Quad City and followed with two assists in Saturday’s 5-3 loss to Quad City. He owns a four-game point streak (2-3—5) and seven streaks of three games or more this season.
With 15-28—43 totals in 53 games – like Glover, those are all career highs – Cahill is tied for 16th in the league in scoring.