The rivalry between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs is heating up after the Bruins’ dramatic 4-2 victory in Game 3 on Wednesday.
Bruins forward Trent Frederic and head coach Jim Montgomery called out Toronto’s Max Domi on Thursday afternoon after his alleged bump of Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman in Game 3. The duo also suggested that with his dominance over the Leafs, perhaps Swayman is getting “in [Toronto’s] head.”
Trent Frederic calls it "kind of wild" that Max Domi bumped Jeremy Swayman during a TV timeout last night
"Maybe Sway’s getting in their head, making a lot of saves, but we also have Linus too. So, bump our goalies, I don’t know, didn’t work last night."
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 25, 2024
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe disagreed with his counterpart’s assessment of the third-period incident.
Keefe on Montgomery comment re: Domi-Swayman bump:
"It's playoff hockey & things are happening all over the ice. With that logic you would say every time they bump into one of our guys maybe we're in their heads"
Frustration with chances not falling?
"I sense zero frustration"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 25, 2024
Swayman made 28 stops during the pivotal victory that gave Boston a 2-1 series edge. He recorded 35 saves in the team’s 5-1 home victory in Game 1 but was replaced by Linus Ullmark in Game 2 (a 3-2 Toronto road win).
According to a report by ESPN’s Kristen Shilton, Montgomery has been rotating the two netminders for “nearly 30 games” since February.
Despite Swayman’s success against the Leafs, the Bruins coach has yet to reveal his starter for Saturday’s Game 4.
“Both goalies have been so good for us,” Montgomery said, per Shilton. “It’s a hard decision.”
