MILAN – Jeremy Swayman expressed heartfelt gratitude upon learning he would be the starting goalkeeper for Team USA on Sunday evening.
However, by the end of the first period, he found himself in the spotlight for unexpected reasons.
Denmark initially gave the Americans a fleeting lead after Swayman allowed a shot from Nicholas B. Jensen, taken from just outside the red line. Yet, it was a rough night that ended with the Americans surprisingly close to defeat but ultimately winning 6-3.
“It was just one of those moments where the shot came through a flash screen at a tricky height between the stands and the boards, so I lost sight of it,” Swayman shared. “You definitely want to bounce back, but keeping your cool is vital, especially at this level. It’s about taking one shot at a time, regardless of how they come in. I’m really proud of the support from the group tonight and how they got the job done.”
The Bruins goalie made 18 saves on 21 shots, but there was another pivotal moment at the end of the second period—Philipp Burgisser scored against Swayman with just three seconds remaining before the break.
“It’s about battling through adversity, and we’ll do whatever it takes to stop the puck. I’m incredibly proud of the team for staying steady,” Swayman noted. “The confidence within the group never faded, which is crucial at this stage of the tournament. We rallied and accomplished our goal.”
With Connor Hellebuyck waiting in reserve, coach Mike Sullivan seemed to be in a challenging position.
Hellebuyck is expected to start in Sunday’s crucial qualifying match against Germany, but pulling Swayman would mean Hellebuyck wouldn’t get a break.
Team USA’s third-string goalie, Jake Oettinger, didn’t dress for Saturday’s match, unlike Team Canada’s strategy the previous night.
When asked about the possibility of replacing Swayman, Sullivan simply replied, “No.”
And when pressed for reasoning, he stated, “Because we believe in him. He’s a solid goalie.”
Sullivan mentioned they didn’t consider Hellebuyck’s potential play on Sunday.
“Sway is a confident guy,” Jack Eichel remarked. “He knows that, most of the time, those shots [from the red line] are going in. It’s a wild game. I lost my puck in the lights a few times tonight; the circumstances are just a bit different.”
“We don’t hold it against him. He’s part of the team. He made some crucial saves at key moments,” Eichel added. “Now, we just have to move forward.”
