The Boston Bruins have confirmed Jeremy Swayman will start in net for Tuesday night's matchup against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center, according to Yahoo Sports. The decision comes as Boston (4-2-0) opens a four-game, weeklong road trip through the Western Conference following a dominant two-game homestand at TD Garden.
Swayman Gets Nod for San Jose Matchup
Swayman has started five of Boston's six games this season and carries a 4-1-0 record with a 1.79 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and one shutout. He has stopped 124 of 133 shots faced. The 27-year-old netminder earned his 136th career victory in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, tying Andy Moog for eighth on the franchise's all-time wins list.
Against San Jose specifically, Swayman holds a 2-2-0 record across five appearances with a .931 save percentage, a 1.76 goals-against average and one shutout. His most recent meeting with the Sharks came March 12, when San Jose won 4-2 at home.
Bruins Ride Momentum Into Western Swing
Boston enters the trip after consecutive lopsided victories: a 6-1 win over the Utah Mammoth on Thursday followed by the 5-1 result against Philadelphia. Both games featured strong defensive structure and timely scoring. The Bruins' only other starter this season, Michael DiPietro, appeared on Oct. 3 at Minnesota and posted a .897 save percentage in a loss.
The road schedule continues with games at Anaheim on Friday, Los Angeles on Saturday and Dallas next Tuesday. San Jose visits Boston on Oct. 24 for the return fixture.
Sharks Look to Extend Recent Dominance
San Jose (3-2-0) has won the last three meetings between the clubs, including two at SAP Center, according to Boston Hockey Now. That streak marks a sharp reversal for a Bruins team that once strung together 14 consecutive victories over the Sharks franchise. All three of San Jose's wins this season have come in overtime, while Saturday brought a 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
The Sharks are attempting to avoid an eighth straight season without a playoff berth. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. PDT (11 p.m. ET) with national broadcast on ESPN, though the feed is blacked out in the Boston market where NESN carries the game locally.
Goalie Matchup: Swayman vs Askarov
San Jose is expected to counter with Yaroslav Askarov, the 24-year-old Russian goaltender selected 11th overall by Nashville in the 2020 draft. Standing 6-foot-3, Askarov is 2-2-0 through four starts with a 3.71 goals-against average and an .860 save percentage. Swayman leads him by 72 percentage points in save percentage and 1.92 goals per game in goals-against average.
Askarov made his Sharks debut this season after being acquired in the offseason. His early numbers reflect a team still finding its defensive identity, whereas Swayman operates behind a Bruins structure that has allowed just two goals total over the past two games.
Why This Game Matters for Boston's Road Test
The Bruins vs Sharks opener sets the tone for a challenging Western swing against four playoff hopefuls. Boston's early success has been built on Swayman's elite play and a defense that limits high-danger chances. Maintaining that standard on the road, where the Bruins have yet to play this season, will test the team's depth and resilience.
For the diaspora audience, Swayman's trajectory — from Anchorage rinks where his father volunteered as team doctor, through University of Maine honors (Mike Richter Award, Hobey Baker finalist), to William Jennings Trophy and All-Star recognition — mirrors the development pathway many young South Asian athletes now pursue in North American hockey systems. His international gold medals at the 2025 IIHF World Championship and 2026 Olympics further underscore the global stage where the sport increasingly operates.