Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman expected to return Saturday against Avalanche

The Boston Bruins may get a boost to their lineup, as goaltender Jeremy Swayman is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday afternoon against the Colorado Avalanche.

Swayman has missed the Bruins’ 2-0 win over the Ottawa Senators due to a minor upper-body injury. He was practicing with the team on Friday, and Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco told reporters after the fact that he “should be an option” for Saturday. However, it’s not confirmed whether or not he will be starting the game, or will just be available as a backup behind Joonas Korpisalo.

Swayman has struggled in his first season as the full-time starter for the Bruins, as he has a 15-16-4 record, an .896 save percentage, 2 shutouts and a -1.77 goals saved above expected in 35 games this season.

Winger Cole Koepke is also close to a return, and may possibly be available for the Bruins on Saturday. Koepke had missed the past four games after sustaining an upper-body injury on January 14th against his former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, due to a hit from Darren Raddysh.

Koepke is having a career year in his first season with the Bruins, with 7 goals and 5 assists for 12 points in 44 games, all four being career highs for him.

One indication that both players are close to a return is the fact that center Patrick Brown and goaltender Michael DiPietro were sent down to the Bruins’ AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins. Brown was pointless in 2 NHL games, but has 9 goals, 16 assists and 25 points in 37 AHL games, while DiPietro didn’t play a game for the NHL squad, but has a 14-5-3 record, a .930 SV% and 3 shutouts in 22 games in the AHL.

The Bruins currently sit in third in the Atlantic Division with a 24-20-6 record. They’ll look to build off of Thursday’s win when they host the Avalanche on Saturday at 1 p.m. EST.