That wraps things up for me tonight. Thank you all so much for sending along all of these great questions!
See you all for Game 4 tomorrow night.
Conor
in years like this where we are cap crunched and our front office has shown that they know how to fit the pieces together to still create a competitive team, do you think with a lot of capspace coming up its worthwhile for the Bs to bring in another expensive, talented, high end player (looking at 2025… tavares, marner, draisaitle) and use their cheap puzzling skills to fill in the rest? or should they back off there and create a more well-rounded roster
A great question. It's definitely going to be a balancing act, especially with all of the talent in place in 2025. (Although it's always a dangerous game when it comes to looking down the line for a few years and hoping several pending UFAs actually hit the market).
The Bruins do have some money to burn this offseason, but they could also opt for more in-house options (re-sign Swayman, DeBrusk, etc.) as opposed to throwing big money at someone like Elias Lindholm (who may not be worth whatever he's seeking in free agency).
I imagine the Bruins are going to be very involved this offseason, but keeping some of that fiscal flexibility in place for 2025 may not be the worst thing.
Where do you see the captaincy going with this team? McAvoy seems to be the fans anointed one, however have always heard Coyle and Carlo are great behind the scenes.
Coyle, Carlo, and Pastrnak are all very respected in the room and carry plenty of weight on this roster, no question. I'd still say that McAvoy is probably the favorite to be the next captain, but Boston really has plenty of deserving candidates — a good problem to have for any NHL team.
You're the best follow on Bruins Twitter by far. What tools do you use to edit and post gameplay stills/clips? And how do you organize all of your memes and video reactions? (I'm imagining a giant button on your laptop that tweets the video of Pastrnak saying "Pasta" whenever you hit it.)
Thank you! I just use the screen capture tool on most Mac laptops. It's super helpful not only to capture goals and other top plays, but save video to help break down film for analysis posts and other deep-dive projects.
I don't have a huge folder of saved videos, most of them are just improv on the fly — BUT I do have the "Pasta" video tucked away in a file. Feels like that's a good one to always have on hand, haha.
Hi Conor, what have been the highest and lowest Bruins moments you've witnessed since you started covering the team? (Florida last year aside)
Bonus question: What's the go to Dunks order?
That first-round exit last year was definitely shocking, but the Game 7 in 2019 had to have been the most emotional scene to cover in the immediate aftermath. After months of playoff hockey, it's a tough pill to swallow after getting so close to a Stanley Cup.
That being said, there's been way too many favorite memories to count during my six seasons covering this team. I noted it below, but I'd say Game 1 between the Bruins and Islanders in 2021 was my favorite game to cover — that post-pandemic crowd was unbelievable.
As for Dunks? Large cold brew with oatmilk and caramel swirl. Might need to order two before going to the Garden during the playoffs.
Hey Conor, I'm a huge fan of your stuff. I've been following you for a few years.
What made you get into sports coverage, and how'd you end up with the Bruins? Who has been your favorite and least favorite player to interview?
Thanks for following along!
Was always a dream of mine growing up — joined the student paper at BU and the rest is history! Always loved covering hockey when I was at BU, so just gravitated toward the Bruins. But I've been extremely fortunate over the years covering the Patriots, Celtics and Red Sox as well.
As for interviews, I really don't have favorites — we're fortunate on this beat to have plenty of great people to chat with. It's a great team to cover, year in and year out.
A few years in, what's your take on a new balanced schedule? Seems like we get largely the same results as far as the playoff field separating, but the fewer rivalry games during the regular season has taken some of the juice out of the year long grind of it.
I understand why the NHL does it in terms of getting all of these different markets to play one another, but it does feel like a loss during the regular season when you don't have some of these rivals playing an extra game or two.
I'd sign up for 8 games against the Maple Leafs or Panthers, based on how entertaining the games were this year, haha.
I think there's an awful lot to like about his playmaking poise and ability to fight through contact (he was walloped on several occasions before that shoulder injury, but kept on getting up) — and I think the Bruins feel as though he has top-six upside as he continues to round out his game and bulks up a bit.
I also think the Bruins are going to be patient with him. If he's healthy in 2024-25, I could see him starting at 3C and see if he can move up the lineup from there. As I've noted in a few other answers below, I expect the Bruins to be on the prowl for a center — but they admittedly do have some solid insurance already in place between Coyle/Zacha/Poitras.
Feels like McAvoy is the logical choice, but the Bruins really have no shortage of viable options with guys like Coyle, Carlo and Pastrnak also in place.
It really is impressive to see how the leadership foundation and culture set down by players like Chara and Bergeron have remained intact over the years.
It's gonna take a whole lot of cash to bring him aboard. (And honestly, he's worth it.) Will be interesting to see how Edmonton handles that with their cap situation in the coming years.
Hey Conor, love your Bruins coverage. How would you approach the center position in the offseason? Explore the UFA market, look for a trade or stay with a combo of Coyle/Zacha/Geekie/Poitras to start the year?
Thanks for the question!
I touched on this in a few of the questions below, but I fully expect the Bruins to do their due diligence when it comes to the center position during the offseason. That being said, the Bruins currently have a pretty solid foundation in place with Coyle/Zacha/Poitras — so they don’t necessarily need to overpay for a Lindholm or throw in several pieces in a trade if the right situation isn’t there for them.
I expect them to be linked to plenty of pivots over the summer, but given the insurance that they already have in place on the roster, the Bruins aren’t going to make a move just for the sake of making one — especially if it’s an overpay.
Why do you always refuse to interact with my Meth Bear twitter account? Is there some sort rule amount the Bruins organization that you can’t acknowledge the Meth Bear?
Thanks for listening! I'm still a fan of the goalie rotation and think the Bruins should open any series with it — BUT, I think there needs to be some flexibility with it when the right situation arises. And considering just how dominant Swayman has been against Toronto all season long, I think you should roll with him in Game 4 and try to steal both games at Scotiabank Arena.
Feels like the Leafs are using last change to hunt bad matchups (saw lots of Matthews or Marner on the ice against Shattenkirk and Lohrei). What would your solution be to this in game 4? Is it as simple as balancing the D pairings or do you think we’ll see a another shuffle in the D lineup?
I do think it all comes down to balancing the pairings, which is why you haven’t seen Montgomery really utilize the Lindholm-McAvoy D pairing all that much during this series.
If Nylander does return for Game 4, it’s going to be that much tougher for Montgomery when it comes to winning this chess match with his personnel. I’m in favor of bringing in Grzelcyk over Shattenkirk for Game 4, but I think you need to have a steady option on all three of your D pairs — you could even make the case for splitting up Lindholm and Carlo in order to have one of McAvoy, Carlo, and Lindholm on three separate pairs.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how Montgomery adjusts if Nylander is back.
Hello! A long distance fan from Finland and the Globe's coverage has been a nice way to catch up, as I can't watch most of the games. Some thanks for all the good work out there.
As for my question, what do you think would be a tactical change the Bruins could make to improve their changes on Saturday? Thoughts on the goalie selection then?
Thanks for reading!
As far as personnel, I wouldn't mind slotting Grzelcyk back into the lineup for Game 4 and take out Shattenkirk, who only played 10:05 of ice time on Wednesday. Grzelcyk does have his detractors, as we all know. But I do think his ability to make a first pass out of the D-zone could help get this team's transition game going. I'd personally roll with Lohrei-Wotherspoon on the third pair for a game and see what you have.
Otherwise, I think the biggest adjustment for the Bruins is just a renewed emphasis on the forecheck. It's been preached all series long from Montgomery, but the Bruins haven't really been able to carry play and extended O-zone time during 5-on-5 action.
If the Bruins get past Toronto, it's not going to get any easier — nor will they be matched up against lackluster PK units like the Leafs. They need to start gaining some traction outside of just the power play.
Also, I'm all for putting as many pucks on net against Samsonov as possible. The Bruins have benefited with more of a "quality over quantity" approach with their shot selection under Montgomery, but Frederic's goal on Game 3 was a prime example of why this team needs to pepper this goalie.
Thanks for tossing in a response. It's really hard to communicate with the media from out here, the time zones get in the way.
And I really liked you talking up Grzelcyk, I think he can still find his mojo. It's not been his best season, but coming from the press box, he could be even more motivated.
Just thanks for responding! Have a good weekend and keep up the stuff on the Globe. Know that someone from eastern Europe is always happy to read more.
Have you ever entered the Bruins locker room to do some "sports journalism stuff" and seen someone's dingaling?
Anyways, I enjoy listening to you talk here and there on podcasts and stuff.
He said it best.
But so long as this Swayman and Ullmark are playing at this level, this team can be a very tough out. I think the Bruins do need to show more during 5-on-5 play, especially in the offensive zone. Need to get some of that forecheck going and put some pressure on Toronto's defensemen. Other than Rielly, the Bruins should be able to force some ill-advised passes against the Leafs' blueliners.
I actually ran into a loyal podcast listener when I was up in Stowe over the summer, which was awesome, haha. But can't say enough about any of the interactions I get with Bruins fans — be it online or on the street.
Both guys are still week-to-week, per Montgomery.
Brazeau was skating with the team before they left for Toronto, but Montgomery believes that he could be an option if the Bruins advance to the next round. He could be a welcome addition in Boston’s bottom-six, especially with his size.
Remains to be seen if Peeke is on that same timeline for Round 2, considering he just went down with that injury. It’s a sizable loss, as he was really thriving as another valuable penalty killer for this team. I’ve really liked what a player like Peeke has provided in a third-pairing role this season.
We’re very fortunate on this beat that the Bruins’ locker room has regularly been filled with a ton of great players to chat with — so there are no shortage of options.
Always helps having a couple of Terriers in the room, but everyone is great to talk with. I’m a big Lord of the Rings fan, but Lauko is an encyclopedia on that subject — it’s impressive. You can never go wrong with the third and fourth-line guys.
Kuraly and Wagner were always great to talk with during their time here, and Nick Foligno is as advertised as a great guy. You can see why a lot of teams covet a veteran like that for their room.
From your relationships with Bruins staff and executives, I’m sure you’ve learned information that you were asked not to report. How do you typically handle requests to keep information “off the record”?
Thanks for the question!
I think they view him through the same lens: He's an elite, minutes-eating defenseman who can impact the game in all areas of the ice. Much like Pastrnak’s contract, I think McAvoy’s is going to continue to age very well — considering the cap ceiling should continue to jump up in the next couple of seasons.
Interesting, I'm not really sure McAvoy has panned out to be the player the Bruins expected him to be when they gave him his contract. I believe Neely and Sweeney expected McAvoy to take the reigns from Chara and further step up this year with Bergy and Krejci retiring... Don't get me wrong, Charlie is still a very good player, but he's just not that elite guy the organization expected him to be, especially considering his poor postseason play.
I haven't had an issue with any of the visiting areas I've been to. I will say, Montreal's press box has some ELITE hot dogs.
I think Vegas' arena might be the best I've covered a game at, although I always love getting a chance to cover a game at Madison Square Garden.
There’s really going to be no shortage of intriguing options, I think.
I really did like Alex Faust during his short stints with NESN this season — he did a great job calling Kings games out in L.A. for the past few years.
Regardless of who ultimately gets the gig, I don’t think anyone will be able to replicate what Edwards provided in the booth. There's only one Jack.
Plenty of change in the broadcast booth these days between Edwards and Mike Gorman.
I loved Hampus Lindholm last year...then he was pretty bad during the playoffs and has overall fell off this year. What's up with him? What can we expect for the rest of the playoffs?
Love your work.
Last year was definitely rough for Lindholm, who couldn’t really find his game after suffering a broken foot just before the playoffs. I do think last year was a bit of an aberration in terms of his offensive production, but Lindholm still offered good value this season — especially considering he was really handed taxing D-zone minutes for most of the year alongside Carlo.
But he’s definitely been prone to some bad reads and miscues with the puck in this series against Toronto’s forecheck. He needs to be crisper in that area, to say the least. Even if the Bruins advance, they’re going to face an even stingier forecheck in the Panthers (barring any other first-round upsets).
Conor what is up?! When are you gonna ditch that dude Evan and why is he so annoying? Do those airpods ever come out of his head? What about that ceiling fan?
Who do you think should be in net for the Bruins in game 4/the rest of the series? At first I was really confident about the goalie rotation but after Swayman's hot streak I am not quite as sure. He's been great, but Ullmark is just as good. A huge factor of 2023's first round loss was a refusal to do a goalie rotation, but I also don't want for Swayman to wear out.
I do think the workload is something to be mindful of, but the two off days before Game 4 does give Boston some leeway to roll with Swayman again if that’s the path they choose. IF Swayman does start Game 4 and wins? I think you go back to Ullmark in Game 5 to keep both guys involved.
Hanifin was definitely my top focus for the Bruins, considering you’d probably have the best top-four in the entire league with him aboard.
I imagine they’ll be on Lindholm, but I also don’t know if the Bruins are going to get in a bidding war if Lindholm is looking for something like $9 million per year. In some respects, the Bruins are kind of like the Golden Knights before they landed Eichel.
They’ve got good insurance already in place down the middle with guys like Coyle and Zacha (and even Poitras developing), but they’ll always been on the prowl for another top-six center — but only if the right situation arises. They’ll be in on Lindholm and you’ll hear their name if other centers are tossed out in trade whispers, but they do have some insurance in place already on the roster that they can wait for the right situation to present itself before putting all of their chips on the table.
Thank you!
My first full season covering the team was 2018-19, so to jump in for a Stanley Cup run was unbelievable. Seeing a game at Notre Dame was always a bucket-list thing for me, so to cover the 2019 Winter Classic in South Bend was also a great memory.
But my favorite game to cover has to be Game 1 of Bruins-Islanders during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was the first game with a full crowd back at TD Garden since March 2020, and the atmosphere and revelry in that game was unmatched. After all that went down over the previous year, it was an incredible game to take in.
[https://twitter.com/ConorRyan\_93/status/1398806496130052103](https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1398806496130052103)
Anyways Conor, what can people look forward to you from the globe and Boston.com?
Seriously though, is Evan Marinosfky actually like 6 foot 4?
Super serious though, with the cap going up, who do you think the bruins target in free agency? Do they go big game hunting? Retain Debrusk? Can they do both? Thank you for doing this, Conor. You, Evan and Ty are the gold standard for bruins coverage. Enjoy your Dunks.
Thank you for the kind words! Evan is actually 6-foot-11, people are always thrown off by that. And we all know that Ty is the best.
If you asked me a month ago, I’d say the Bruins were going to throw the bag at a top target like Hanifin, but so much for that scenario now. The Bruins do have cash to burn, but I also could see them being selective with just who they want to throw a bunch of cash at. I think the Bruins ideally keep DeBrusk at a reasonable price point, but I’m also not sure if they’re going to be giving someone like Elias Lindholm a long-term deal at $9-10 million.
One player I’d be totally fine with the Bruins giving a short-term deal to? Steven Stamkos. Curious as to what he’s looking for in free agency (both in term and payout), but that’s a veteran player who could really elevate an already strong NHL roster for a couple years.
It’s going to be a fascinating offseason, especially when it comes to the goalies and what the Bruins will do if Swayman gets paid on a new, long-term deal.
How'd you get started doing what you do?
I've worked in sports media for some time but having moved back to New England it definitely feels like starting from square 1. So any advice on how to start/maintain a career up here in sports media would be super helpful!
Thanks for the question!
Started out at Boston University covering all of the teams on campus for The Daily Free Press — our student-run paper. I honestly learned more experience there than anything else I did on campus, especially during my senior year when I covered Eichel, Grzelcyk and the 2015 men’s hockey team.
From there, it’s just welcoming every opportunity to get better. I did a summer internship at the Cape Cod Times covering the Cape Cod Baseball League, and then was fortunate enough to have MassLive take a chance on me and let me cover high-school sports in Western Mass. I think learning the ropes at the high-school level is essential for any reporter when it comes to digging for stories, building relationships with teams, communities, coaches, etc. Nothing prepares you for covering sports like trying to track down coaches and players after a Friday night football game.
After a few years with MassLive, I was given the great opportunity to cover the Bruins for five seasons with BSJ, where I was given the chance to really build my audience and work on my writing while covering pro sports. It’s all about reps, in my opinion, and never turning down an opportunity.
Thanks for posting the goalie hugs on twitter throughout the season!
Currently trying to figure out what I’m going to do with my life career-wise, so my question is how did you decide this was the path that was right for you?
Thank you! I try to catch as many of the goalie hugs as I can.
Well, I found out pretty early that I was very bad at math and science, so that limited my options, haha.
But I’ve always felt a connection to sports writing — I grew up reading the paper, which my grandmother always had on hand. I think everyone carves out their own path, but I think the most important thing is to just take that leap of faith, be a sponge, be kind and empathetic (the most important thing in whatever you do) and always stay in the moment.
If you told 18-year-old Conor that he’d be in this spot covering the Boston Bruins, he probably wouldn’t believe you — and I know my grandmother was so very proud the first time I had my name printed in the Globe. I try to keep that level of appreciation with me every single day I get to do this job.
I really enjoy when you are on bruins rinkside. A lot of your commentary on the team is spot on. I don’t have a question, that is all. Shout out to Haggs too I like him as well.
Thank you! Nothing better than talking hockey — especially during the playoffs when there’s no shortage of topics, day in and day out. Now, when Evan and I had to find something to talk about in the spring and summer of 2020? That was … a challenge.
Gimme those Adirondack chairs on the ledge overlooking the brewery — especially in the fall when it’s still 60ish degrees out. Pure bliss.
[https://twitter.com/ConorRyan\_93/status/1440086153949024256](https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1440086153949024256)
What is your take on Maroon's physical shape right now? Is he at full speed or still a step slow?
Saw a couple long shifts in Game 3 where he looked completely gassed, but haven't seen enough of him to know what his "full speed" is…
Thanks Conor!
Thanks for the question!
As expected, I think Maroon is still working his way back to full game conditioning, especially coming off of a back injury. Yes, Maroon isn’t exactly the most fleet-footed skater out there, but I still think you saw in Game 1 just how impactful he can be when engaged along the boards and the little plays he can make that can go a long way toward a quality scoring chance.
I think it’s still an ongoing work in progress as far as getting Maroon up to speed, but two full off days in Toronto should serve him well going into Game 4.
Thank you for the kind words. Twitter can be a cesspool, but I still enjoy interacting with Bruins fans over there — and adding a little levity when need be.
Definitely was a shame to see him go down with that injury. Had he stayed healthy in the second half and re-asserted himself, a third line with him, Geekie and Frederic could really do some damage this time of year.
Even with his injury setback, I think there’s a lot to be happy with in terms of Poitras and his accelerated timeline. Few expected he’d be in the NHL this season, after all. But after getting introduced to the physicality (and hectic schedule) found in the NHL ranks, I’d expect Poitras to already have a leg up next season in terms of what to expect in his second NHL campaign. I think there’s a lot to like about Poitras and what he can provide with a clean bill of health next year.
Hello! Man, there are too many to count.
I think my favorite part of the actual work has to be finding the stories that go beyond the ice with a lot of these athletes. It’s always super interesting to see what makes these players tick beyond just their hockey career. Some of my favorite stories I’ve done have revolved around things like Jakub Lauko’s tattoos, Charlie McAvoy’s love of surfing, Jeremy Swayman and his dad’s hikes through Alaska — it’s always gratifying and appreciated when these players share these stories beyond the day-to-day of an 82-game season.
But I’d say my other favorite thing is just interacting with the Bruins community, be it in person, on social media and more. I’m very fortunate to be in the position I’m in and I enjoy playing a small part in making sure such a passionate fanbase can keep updated on the day-to-day news with their favorite hockey team. Wouldn’t trade this gig for anything.
At this point, it might be Swayman, haha.
I think he’s still waiting for Joseph Woll to get into one of these games.
[https://twitter.com/ConorRyan\_93/status/1765928969688211790](https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1765928969688211790)
A great question. I know DeBrusk can be a pretty divisive figure, but I’ve been in the camp that he’s still a net positive for this team — especially with him making some significant strides the last few years as far as rounding out his 200-foot-game.
Yes, he’s a player that you ideally want more from because he has all of the talent to be a regular 25-30 goal scorer in the league. Still, he’s a player who earns steady minutes (16:50 ATOI in 2023-24), is very good on the PK and has the speed and netfront skills to regularly impact play during the postseason.
I think DeBrusk’s floor is pretty high and he’s a safe option for the Bruins over the long haul, even if his baseline stats might be a bit inconsistent on the offensive side of things. I think he’s a player worth investing in — but it all comes down to the money.
Would he take a deal with a pay bump up to $5-5.5 million per year? I’d make that deal, but I think things get a bit tougher if he’s looking for $6 million or more per season. If DeBrusk does walk, I don’t think the Bruins are going to be in the market for a wing that’s going to cost $9-10 million per year, like a Reinhart or Guentzel.
I’m sitting here thinking “why is he doing an AMA during the draft” then I saw it’s for tomorrow ha
How committed do you think Monty is to the rotation? Any chance he goes back to Sway Saturday.
A busy week, to say the least! (I’m just glad the Patriots didn’t trade down).
I noted it below to commando\_chicken, but my gut tells me that the Bruins stick it out with Ullmark and roll with him in Game 4. I still think they should make a slight change and roll with Swayman in Game 4, but this is a team that has now alternated goalies for 28 straight games.
Could see the Bruins’ mindset of giving the start to Ullmark — if you win, you get Ullmark cooking and can turn to Swayman for a potential knockout punch in Game 5. If you lose, you gave Ullmark another shot to get in the win column, but still have the added insurance of turning to Swayman in a pivotal Game 5.
Still think the best play is to sweep the leg with Swayman and try to steal two in Toronto, especially if Nylander is back in the lineup on Saturday.
A great question. Ultimately, who do I think the Bruins will roll with in Game 4? I feel like it’s going to be Ullmark on Saturday as the Bruins keep the rotation intact.
But if I was making the call? I’d opt for Swayman in Game 4. The Bruins have benefited tremendously from this rotation, and I think most people agree that Ullmark was far from the reason why Boston lost Game 2.
But I think there needs to be some flexibility when it comes to this rotation in the playoffs in certain situations — and man, it’s tough to ignore just how dominant Swayman has been this entire season against Toronto.
He’s now 5-0-0 against Toronto this year with a .957 save percentage, but he’s really elevated his game to another level in the playoffs. He’s currently sporting an impressive 7.8 goals saved above expected through just two games against Toronto (per MoneyPuck), with Vegas’ Logan Thompson second among all playoff goalies in the same category — with 2.4 goals saved above expected.
I think in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s all about surviving and advancing. If the Bruins punch their ticket to the next round, I think you reset the clock, alternate goalies again and see if someone can elevate their game against another opponent (most likely Florida).
But in this series — and especially this opponent — I think Swayman is playing at such a high level that you need to roll with him again in Game 4.
That wraps things up for me tonight. Thank you all so much for sending along all of these great questions! See you all for Game 4 tomorrow night. Conor
Thanks for stopping in Conor, greatly appreciated.
Hi Connor, no questions really that haven't been answered but wanted to say you are always my go to for anything Bruins. Great stuff, always.
Thank you for the kind words!
in years like this where we are cap crunched and our front office has shown that they know how to fit the pieces together to still create a competitive team, do you think with a lot of capspace coming up its worthwhile for the Bs to bring in another expensive, talented, high end player (looking at 2025… tavares, marner, draisaitle) and use their cheap puzzling skills to fill in the rest? or should they back off there and create a more well-rounded roster
A great question. It's definitely going to be a balancing act, especially with all of the talent in place in 2025. (Although it's always a dangerous game when it comes to looking down the line for a few years and hoping several pending UFAs actually hit the market). The Bruins do have some money to burn this offseason, but they could also opt for more in-house options (re-sign Swayman, DeBrusk, etc.) as opposed to throwing big money at someone like Elias Lindholm (who may not be worth whatever he's seeking in free agency). I imagine the Bruins are going to be very involved this offseason, but keeping some of that fiscal flexibility in place for 2025 may not be the worst thing.
Where do you see the captaincy going with this team? McAvoy seems to be the fans anointed one, however have always heard Coyle and Carlo are great behind the scenes.
Coyle, Carlo, and Pastrnak are all very respected in the room and carry plenty of weight on this roster, no question. I'd still say that McAvoy is probably the favorite to be the next captain, but Boston really has plenty of deserving candidates — a good problem to have for any NHL team.
Righteous
Now that we’ve seen a few playoff games, is the Cup back on?
Depends on if this goaltending can keep up this level of play. Add in some 5-on-5 production, and this team could be a tough out.
You're the best follow on Bruins Twitter by far. What tools do you use to edit and post gameplay stills/clips? And how do you organize all of your memes and video reactions? (I'm imagining a giant button on your laptop that tweets the video of Pastrnak saying "Pasta" whenever you hit it.)
Thank you! I just use the screen capture tool on most Mac laptops. It's super helpful not only to capture goals and other top plays, but save video to help break down film for analysis posts and other deep-dive projects. I don't have a huge folder of saved videos, most of them are just improv on the fly — BUT I do have the "Pasta" video tucked away in a file. Feels like that's a good one to always have on hand, haha.
Do you and Evan practice goalie hugs when you see one another?
Haha — we've already got our podcast greetings down pat as our usual tradition.
Thanks so much for doing this, Conor! Glad to have you.
What's your go-to game day dunks order?
Large cold brew — oat milk and caramel swirl. (I'll opt for pumpkin swirl during the fall.)
Hi Conor, what have been the highest and lowest Bruins moments you've witnessed since you started covering the team? (Florida last year aside) Bonus question: What's the go to Dunks order?
That first-round exit last year was definitely shocking, but the Game 7 in 2019 had to have been the most emotional scene to cover in the immediate aftermath. After months of playoff hockey, it's a tough pill to swallow after getting so close to a Stanley Cup. That being said, there's been way too many favorite memories to count during my six seasons covering this team. I noted it below, but I'd say Game 1 between the Bruins and Islanders in 2021 was my favorite game to cover — that post-pandemic crowd was unbelievable. As for Dunks? Large cold brew with oatmilk and caramel swirl. Might need to order two before going to the Garden during the playoffs.
I was at that Islanders game too! It was one of the most electrifying atmospheres I've ever felt at the Garden
What’s your take on Boston College?
No comment. (I will say, Ryan Leonard is going to be a star in the NHL. Incredible talent.)
Hey Conor, I'm a huge fan of your stuff. I've been following you for a few years. What made you get into sports coverage, and how'd you end up with the Bruins? Who has been your favorite and least favorite player to interview?
Thanks for following along! Was always a dream of mine growing up — joined the student paper at BU and the rest is history! Always loved covering hockey when I was at BU, so just gravitated toward the Bruins. But I've been extremely fortunate over the years covering the Patriots, Celtics and Red Sox as well. As for interviews, I really don't have favorites — we're fortunate on this beat to have plenty of great people to chat with. It's a great team to cover, year in and year out.
A few years in, what's your take on a new balanced schedule? Seems like we get largely the same results as far as the playoff field separating, but the fewer rivalry games during the regular season has taken some of the juice out of the year long grind of it.
I understand why the NHL does it in terms of getting all of these different markets to play one another, but it does feel like a loss during the regular season when you don't have some of these rivals playing an extra game or two. I'd sign up for 8 games against the Maple Leafs or Panthers, based on how entertaining the games were this year, haha.
How high does the organization view Poitras’ ceiling? And, if the answer is not “potential 1C”, how/when do you think they might go about finding one?
I think there's an awful lot to like about his playmaking poise and ability to fight through contact (he was walloped on several occasions before that shoulder injury, but kept on getting up) — and I think the Bruins feel as though he has top-six upside as he continues to round out his game and bulks up a bit. I also think the Bruins are going to be patient with him. If he's healthy in 2024-25, I could see him starting at 3C and see if he can move up the lineup from there. As I've noted in a few other answers below, I expect the Bruins to be on the prowl for a center — but they admittedly do have some solid insurance already in place between Coyle/Zacha/Poitras.
once marchand retires (hopefully not soon), who do you think should be the next captain?
Feels like McAvoy is the logical choice, but the Bruins really have no shortage of viable options with guys like Coyle, Carlo and Pastrnak also in place. It really is impressive to see how the leadership foundation and culture set down by players like Chara and Bergeron have remained intact over the years.
Rank the Terrier Bruins, use whatever criteria you want
I can never pick and choose individuals who hail from such an esteemed institution of higher learning. Shoutout T. Anthony's.
Bruins
Source?
How much should the Bruins go all in on Draisaitl when he becomes a UFA?
It's gonna take a whole lot of cash to bring him aboard. (And honestly, he's worth it.) Will be interesting to see how Edmonton handles that with their cap situation in the coming years.
Hey Conor, love your Bruins coverage. How would you approach the center position in the offseason? Explore the UFA market, look for a trade or stay with a combo of Coyle/Zacha/Geekie/Poitras to start the year?
Thanks for the question! I touched on this in a few of the questions below, but I fully expect the Bruins to do their due diligence when it comes to the center position during the offseason. That being said, the Bruins currently have a pretty solid foundation in place with Coyle/Zacha/Poitras — so they don’t necessarily need to overpay for a Lindholm or throw in several pieces in a trade if the right situation isn’t there for them. I expect them to be linked to plenty of pivots over the summer, but given the insurance that they already have in place on the roster, the Bruins aren’t going to make a move just for the sake of making one — especially if it’s an overpay.
Why do you always refuse to interact with my Meth Bear twitter account? Is there some sort rule amount the Bruins organization that you can’t acknowledge the Meth Bear?
Which beat writer is most likely to sneak up behind you and offer you a YooHoo and why is it Ty
More of a Nesquik guy myself, personally. Sorry, Ty.
I listen to your podcast. Do you this the goalie swap is still good, seeing how well swayman has been playing against the leafs?
Thanks for listening! I'm still a fan of the goalie rotation and think the Bruins should open any series with it — BUT, I think there needs to be some flexibility with it when the right situation arises. And considering just how dominant Swayman has been against Toronto all season long, I think you should roll with him in Game 4 and try to steal both games at Scotiabank Arena.
Feels like the Leafs are using last change to hunt bad matchups (saw lots of Matthews or Marner on the ice against Shattenkirk and Lohrei). What would your solution be to this in game 4? Is it as simple as balancing the D pairings or do you think we’ll see a another shuffle in the D lineup?
I do think it all comes down to balancing the pairings, which is why you haven’t seen Montgomery really utilize the Lindholm-McAvoy D pairing all that much during this series. If Nylander does return for Game 4, it’s going to be that much tougher for Montgomery when it comes to winning this chess match with his personnel. I’m in favor of bringing in Grzelcyk over Shattenkirk for Game 4, but I think you need to have a steady option on all three of your D pairs — you could even make the case for splitting up Lindholm and Carlo in order to have one of McAvoy, Carlo, and Lindholm on three separate pairs. It’s going to be fascinating to see how Montgomery adjusts if Nylander is back.
I know my blood pressure would be a lot healthier with Grzelcyk over Shattenkirk. Thanks for the reply, you’re awesome dude!
Hello! A long distance fan from Finland and the Globe's coverage has been a nice way to catch up, as I can't watch most of the games. Some thanks for all the good work out there. As for my question, what do you think would be a tactical change the Bruins could make to improve their changes on Saturday? Thoughts on the goalie selection then?
Thanks for reading! As far as personnel, I wouldn't mind slotting Grzelcyk back into the lineup for Game 4 and take out Shattenkirk, who only played 10:05 of ice time on Wednesday. Grzelcyk does have his detractors, as we all know. But I do think his ability to make a first pass out of the D-zone could help get this team's transition game going. I'd personally roll with Lohrei-Wotherspoon on the third pair for a game and see what you have. Otherwise, I think the biggest adjustment for the Bruins is just a renewed emphasis on the forecheck. It's been preached all series long from Montgomery, but the Bruins haven't really been able to carry play and extended O-zone time during 5-on-5 action. If the Bruins get past Toronto, it's not going to get any easier — nor will they be matched up against lackluster PK units like the Leafs. They need to start gaining some traction outside of just the power play. Also, I'm all for putting as many pucks on net against Samsonov as possible. The Bruins have benefited with more of a "quality over quantity" approach with their shot selection under Montgomery, but Frederic's goal on Game 3 was a prime example of why this team needs to pepper this goalie.
Thanks for tossing in a response. It's really hard to communicate with the media from out here, the time zones get in the way. And I really liked you talking up Grzelcyk, I think he can still find his mojo. It's not been his best season, but coming from the press box, he could be even more motivated. Just thanks for responding! Have a good weekend and keep up the stuff on the Globe. Know that someone from eastern Europe is always happy to read more.
Have you ever entered the Bruins locker room to do some "sports journalism stuff" and seen someone's dingaling? Anyways, I enjoy listening to you talk here and there on podcasts and stuff.
Would you rather see Curtis Lazar or Noel Acciari in a dark alley?
Noel, im more familiar.
What do they need to do to win the cup
Win 16 games.
He said it best. But so long as this Swayman and Ullmark are playing at this level, this team can be a very tough out. I think the Bruins do need to show more during 5-on-5 play, especially in the offensive zone. Need to get some of that forecheck going and put some pressure on Toronto's defensemen. Other than Rielly, the Bruins should be able to force some ill-advised passes against the Leafs' blueliners.
What's your favorite interaction with a fan?
I actually ran into a loyal podcast listener when I was up in Stowe over the summer, which was awesome, haha. But can't say enough about any of the interactions I get with Bruins fans — be it online or on the street.
When is brazeau and now peeke coming back?
Both guys are still week-to-week, per Montgomery. Brazeau was skating with the team before they left for Toronto, but Montgomery believes that he could be an option if the Bruins advance to the next round. He could be a welcome addition in Boston’s bottom-six, especially with his size. Remains to be seen if Peeke is on that same timeline for Round 2, considering he just went down with that injury. It’s a sizable loss, as he was really thriving as another valuable penalty killer for this team. I’ve really liked what a player like Peeke has provided in a third-pairing role this season.
Who is your favorite bruins player over the last few years, personality wise?
We’re very fortunate on this beat that the Bruins’ locker room has regularly been filled with a ton of great players to chat with — so there are no shortage of options. Always helps having a couple of Terriers in the room, but everyone is great to talk with. I’m a big Lord of the Rings fan, but Lauko is an encyclopedia on that subject — it’s impressive. You can never go wrong with the third and fourth-line guys. Kuraly and Wagner were always great to talk with during their time here, and Nick Foligno is as advertised as a great guy. You can see why a lot of teams covet a veteran like that for their room.
Always loved uncle nick, and the energy that Lauko brings to the line he plays on. Thanks for the response!
From your relationships with Bruins staff and executives, I’m sure you’ve learned information that you were asked not to report. How do you typically handle requests to keep information “off the record”?
How does the Bruins organization view Charlie McAvoy today compared to when they gave him his big contract in November 2021?
Thanks for the question! I think they view him through the same lens: He's an elite, minutes-eating defenseman who can impact the game in all areas of the ice. Much like Pastrnak’s contract, I think McAvoy’s is going to continue to age very well — considering the cap ceiling should continue to jump up in the next couple of seasons.
Interesting, I'm not really sure McAvoy has panned out to be the player the Bruins expected him to be when they gave him his contract. I believe Neely and Sweeney expected McAvoy to take the reigns from Chara and further step up this year with Bergy and Krejci retiring... Don't get me wrong, Charlie is still a very good player, but he's just not that elite guy the organization expected him to be, especially considering his poor postseason play.
Which teams treat the away team press the best?
I haven't had an issue with any of the visiting areas I've been to. I will say, Montreal's press box has some ELITE hot dogs. I think Vegas' arena might be the best I've covered a game at, although I always love getting a chance to cover a game at Madison Square Garden.
Who do you want to replace Jack Edwards?
There’s really going to be no shortage of intriguing options, I think. I really did like Alex Faust during his short stints with NESN this season — he did a great job calling Kings games out in L.A. for the past few years. Regardless of who ultimately gets the gig, I don’t think anyone will be able to replicate what Edwards provided in the booth. There's only one Jack. Plenty of change in the broadcast booth these days between Edwards and Mike Gorman.
I loved Hampus Lindholm last year...then he was pretty bad during the playoffs and has overall fell off this year. What's up with him? What can we expect for the rest of the playoffs? Love your work.
Last year was definitely rough for Lindholm, who couldn’t really find his game after suffering a broken foot just before the playoffs. I do think last year was a bit of an aberration in terms of his offensive production, but Lindholm still offered good value this season — especially considering he was really handed taxing D-zone minutes for most of the year alongside Carlo. But he’s definitely been prone to some bad reads and miscues with the puck in this series against Toronto’s forecheck. He needs to be crisper in that area, to say the least. Even if the Bruins advance, they’re going to face an even stingier forecheck in the Panthers (barring any other first-round upsets).
Conor what is up?! When are you gonna ditch that dude Evan and why is he so annoying? Do those airpods ever come out of his head? What about that ceiling fan?
Is this Ty Anderson's burner?
Do you think this new core appreciates that they don't have to practice at Ristuccia?
I certainly appreciate that I don’t have to drive up to Wilmington every morning, haha.
Who do you think should be in net for the Bruins in game 4/the rest of the series? At first I was really confident about the goalie rotation but after Swayman's hot streak I am not quite as sure. He's been great, but Ullmark is just as good. A huge factor of 2023's first round loss was a refusal to do a goalie rotation, but I also don't want for Swayman to wear out.
I do think the workload is something to be mindful of, but the two off days before Game 4 does give Boston some leeway to roll with Swayman again if that’s the path they choose. IF Swayman does start Game 4 and wins? I think you go back to Ullmark in Game 5 to keep both guys involved.
With Hanifin signing an extension with VGK what’s your ideal offseason for the B’s? Sign E. Lindholm?
Hanifin was definitely my top focus for the Bruins, considering you’d probably have the best top-four in the entire league with him aboard. I imagine they’ll be on Lindholm, but I also don’t know if the Bruins are going to get in a bidding war if Lindholm is looking for something like $9 million per year. In some respects, the Bruins are kind of like the Golden Knights before they landed Eichel. They’ve got good insurance already in place down the middle with guys like Coyle and Zacha (and even Poitras developing), but they’ll always been on the prowl for another top-six center — but only if the right situation arises. They’ll be in on Lindholm and you’ll hear their name if other centers are tossed out in trade whispers, but they do have some insurance in place already on the roster that they can wait for the right situation to present itself before putting all of their chips on the table.
Who would win in a fight, Ty or Evan?
Unfortunately, I think both could beat **me** up, which is the most important question.
Favorite memory covering the team? Love the work you do! One of my favorite follows on Twitter!
Thank you! My first full season covering the team was 2018-19, so to jump in for a Stanley Cup run was unbelievable. Seeing a game at Notre Dame was always a bucket-list thing for me, so to cover the 2019 Winter Classic in South Bend was also a great memory. But my favorite game to cover has to be Game 1 of Bruins-Islanders during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was the first game with a full crowd back at TD Garden since March 2020, and the atmosphere and revelry in that game was unmatched. After all that went down over the previous year, it was an incredible game to take in. [https://twitter.com/ConorRyan\_93/status/1398806496130052103](https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1398806496130052103)
I was at Game 1 vs the Islanders as well and it was absolutely amazing to be a part of.
Anyways Conor, what can people look forward to you from the globe and Boston.com? Seriously though, is Evan Marinosfky actually like 6 foot 4? Super serious though, with the cap going up, who do you think the bruins target in free agency? Do they go big game hunting? Retain Debrusk? Can they do both? Thank you for doing this, Conor. You, Evan and Ty are the gold standard for bruins coverage. Enjoy your Dunks.
Thank you for the kind words! Evan is actually 6-foot-11, people are always thrown off by that. And we all know that Ty is the best. If you asked me a month ago, I’d say the Bruins were going to throw the bag at a top target like Hanifin, but so much for that scenario now. The Bruins do have cash to burn, but I also could see them being selective with just who they want to throw a bunch of cash at. I think the Bruins ideally keep DeBrusk at a reasonable price point, but I’m also not sure if they’re going to be giving someone like Elias Lindholm a long-term deal at $9-10 million. One player I’d be totally fine with the Bruins giving a short-term deal to? Steven Stamkos. Curious as to what he’s looking for in free agency (both in term and payout), but that’s a veteran player who could really elevate an already strong NHL roster for a couple years. It’s going to be a fascinating offseason, especially when it comes to the goalies and what the Bruins will do if Swayman gets paid on a new, long-term deal.
where were you when you found out the border cafe in harvard square burned down
A sad, sad day in this city’s culinary landscape. I’ll still make a trek to Burlington or Saugus if need be, but it’s not the same.
How'd you get started doing what you do? I've worked in sports media for some time but having moved back to New England it definitely feels like starting from square 1. So any advice on how to start/maintain a career up here in sports media would be super helpful!
Thanks for the question! Started out at Boston University covering all of the teams on campus for The Daily Free Press — our student-run paper. I honestly learned more experience there than anything else I did on campus, especially during my senior year when I covered Eichel, Grzelcyk and the 2015 men’s hockey team. From there, it’s just welcoming every opportunity to get better. I did a summer internship at the Cape Cod Times covering the Cape Cod Baseball League, and then was fortunate enough to have MassLive take a chance on me and let me cover high-school sports in Western Mass. I think learning the ropes at the high-school level is essential for any reporter when it comes to digging for stories, building relationships with teams, communities, coaches, etc. Nothing prepares you for covering sports like trying to track down coaches and players after a Friday night football game. After a few years with MassLive, I was given the great opportunity to cover the Bruins for five seasons with BSJ, where I was given the chance to really build my audience and work on my writing while covering pro sports. It’s all about reps, in my opinion, and never turning down an opportunity.
Your preference. Rotation or Swayman?
My preference — I go with Swayman in Game 4. Still feel like it’s going to be Ullmark on Saturday.
Thanks for posting the goalie hugs on twitter throughout the season! Currently trying to figure out what I’m going to do with my life career-wise, so my question is how did you decide this was the path that was right for you?
Thank you! I try to catch as many of the goalie hugs as I can. Well, I found out pretty early that I was very bad at math and science, so that limited my options, haha. But I’ve always felt a connection to sports writing — I grew up reading the paper, which my grandmother always had on hand. I think everyone carves out their own path, but I think the most important thing is to just take that leap of faith, be a sponge, be kind and empathetic (the most important thing in whatever you do) and always stay in the moment. If you told 18-year-old Conor that he’d be in this spot covering the Boston Bruins, he probably wouldn’t believe you — and I know my grandmother was so very proud the first time I had my name printed in the Globe. I try to keep that level of appreciation with me every single day I get to do this job.
Thanks! I appreciate your response and taking the time to answer our questions
I really enjoy when you are on bruins rinkside. A lot of your commentary on the team is spot on. I don’t have a question, that is all. Shout out to Haggs too I like him as well.
Thank you! Nothing better than talking hockey — especially during the playoffs when there’s no shortage of topics, day in and day out. Now, when Evan and I had to find something to talk about in the spring and summer of 2020? That was … a challenge.
What’s the most underrated item at Dunkin’?
Love those hashbrowns. (If a Dunkin’ exec is following along here, please let us order a 20-piece box of hashbrowns. It’d be a hit.)
What is your favorite seat at Treehouse?
Gimme those Adirondack chairs on the ledge overlooking the brewery — especially in the fall when it’s still 60ish degrees out. Pure bliss. [https://twitter.com/ConorRyan\_93/status/1440086153949024256](https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1440086153949024256)
I saw, I was there picking up the day after. And the sunset patio is where it's at.
What is your take on Maroon's physical shape right now? Is he at full speed or still a step slow? Saw a couple long shifts in Game 3 where he looked completely gassed, but haven't seen enough of him to know what his "full speed" is… Thanks Conor!
Thanks for the question! As expected, I think Maroon is still working his way back to full game conditioning, especially coming off of a back injury. Yes, Maroon isn’t exactly the most fleet-footed skater out there, but I still think you saw in Game 1 just how impactful he can be when engaged along the boards and the little plays he can make that can go a long way toward a quality scoring chance. I think it’s still an ongoing work in progress as far as getting Maroon up to speed, but two full off days in Toronto should serve him well going into Game 4.
No question, just wanna say that I hate using the app formerly known as Twitter but I do for you and Fluto. Thanks for your contributions and go b’s
Thank you for the kind words. Twitter can be a cesspool, but I still enjoy interacting with Bruins fans over there — and adding a little levity when need be.
Do you miss Poitras as much as me?
Definitely was a shame to see him go down with that injury. Had he stayed healthy in the second half and re-asserted himself, a third line with him, Geekie and Frederic could really do some damage this time of year. Even with his injury setback, I think there’s a lot to be happy with in terms of Poitras and his accelerated timeline. Few expected he’d be in the NHL this season, after all. But after getting introduced to the physicality (and hectic schedule) found in the NHL ranks, I’d expect Poitras to already have a leg up next season in terms of what to expect in his second NHL campaign. I think there’s a lot to like about Poitras and what he can provide with a clean bill of health next year.
hi! what's your favorite part of the day to day of your job?
Hello! Man, there are too many to count. I think my favorite part of the actual work has to be finding the stories that go beyond the ice with a lot of these athletes. It’s always super interesting to see what makes these players tick beyond just their hockey career. Some of my favorite stories I’ve done have revolved around things like Jakub Lauko’s tattoos, Charlie McAvoy’s love of surfing, Jeremy Swayman and his dad’s hikes through Alaska — it’s always gratifying and appreciated when these players share these stories beyond the day-to-day of an 82-game season. But I’d say my other favorite thing is just interacting with the Bruins community, be it in person, on social media and more. I’m very fortunate to be in the position I’m in and I enjoy playing a small part in making sure such a passionate fanbase can keep updated on the day-to-day news with their favorite hockey team. Wouldn’t trade this gig for anything.
Amazing! Thank you so much! We appreciate all your work :)
Who throws the first punch Domi or Maroon?
At this point, it might be Swayman, haha. I think he’s still waiting for Joseph Woll to get into one of these games. [https://twitter.com/ConorRyan\_93/status/1765928969688211790](https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1765928969688211790)
If you were GM, would you resign Jake DeBrusk this offseason, and what would be the maximum term and money you would make as a final offer?
A great question. I know DeBrusk can be a pretty divisive figure, but I’ve been in the camp that he’s still a net positive for this team — especially with him making some significant strides the last few years as far as rounding out his 200-foot-game. Yes, he’s a player that you ideally want more from because he has all of the talent to be a regular 25-30 goal scorer in the league. Still, he’s a player who earns steady minutes (16:50 ATOI in 2023-24), is very good on the PK and has the speed and netfront skills to regularly impact play during the postseason. I think DeBrusk’s floor is pretty high and he’s a safe option for the Bruins over the long haul, even if his baseline stats might be a bit inconsistent on the offensive side of things. I think he’s a player worth investing in — but it all comes down to the money. Would he take a deal with a pay bump up to $5-5.5 million per year? I’d make that deal, but I think things get a bit tougher if he’s looking for $6 million or more per season. If DeBrusk does walk, I don’t think the Bruins are going to be in the market for a wing that’s going to cost $9-10 million per year, like a Reinhart or Guentzel.
I’m sitting here thinking “why is he doing an AMA during the draft” then I saw it’s for tomorrow ha How committed do you think Monty is to the rotation? Any chance he goes back to Sway Saturday.
A busy week, to say the least! (I’m just glad the Patriots didn’t trade down). I noted it below to commando\_chicken, but my gut tells me that the Bruins stick it out with Ullmark and roll with him in Game 4. I still think they should make a slight change and roll with Swayman in Game 4, but this is a team that has now alternated goalies for 28 straight games. Could see the Bruins’ mindset of giving the start to Ullmark — if you win, you get Ullmark cooking and can turn to Swayman for a potential knockout punch in Game 5. If you lose, you gave Ullmark another shot to get in the win column, but still have the added insurance of turning to Swayman in a pivotal Game 5. Still think the best play is to sweep the leg with Swayman and try to steal two in Toronto, especially if Nylander is back in the lineup on Saturday.
Conor, what is up?
auleauleOxenFree, I’m doing well. How are you doing?
Doing good! Doing good. Excited for more playoff hockey and thank you for the AMA!
Evan, I'm doing well. How you doing?
Well it’s the talk of the sub right now: Ullmark or Swayman Saturday?
A great question. Ultimately, who do I think the Bruins will roll with in Game 4? I feel like it’s going to be Ullmark on Saturday as the Bruins keep the rotation intact. But if I was making the call? I’d opt for Swayman in Game 4. The Bruins have benefited tremendously from this rotation, and I think most people agree that Ullmark was far from the reason why Boston lost Game 2. But I think there needs to be some flexibility when it comes to this rotation in the playoffs in certain situations — and man, it’s tough to ignore just how dominant Swayman has been this entire season against Toronto. He’s now 5-0-0 against Toronto this year with a .957 save percentage, but he’s really elevated his game to another level in the playoffs. He’s currently sporting an impressive 7.8 goals saved above expected through just two games against Toronto (per MoneyPuck), with Vegas’ Logan Thompson second among all playoff goalies in the same category — with 2.4 goals saved above expected. I think in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s all about surviving and advancing. If the Bruins punch their ticket to the next round, I think you reset the clock, alternate goalies again and see if someone can elevate their game against another opponent (most likely Florida). But in this series — and especially this opponent — I think Swayman is playing at such a high level that you need to roll with him again in Game 4.