Jeremy Swayman followed up his contract holdout last season with an abysmal season, which led Boston Bruins fans and haters around the league to wonder if the long-term contract extension was a mistake. Swayman told everyone who would listen that this year was going to be different, but his form early in the season looked familiar to last season. And just when everyone was about to accept that the contract was a mistake, Swayman set out to change everyone’s opinion.
Swayman won his fifth consecutive start on Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens. The goaltender thrives in those kinds of moments, and playing the old rival with first place on the line was one of those times. He helped the Bruins kill all seven of their undisciplined penalties, and he looked like the team’s rock while doing it.
It hasn’t been easy for Swayman to have success, but he hasn’t had any issues. The Bruins are the most penalized team in the league, but the goaltender continues to come up big in those situations. While the Bruins are trying to make it easy on their goaltenders with Marco Sturm’s defensive structure, Swayman is saving the defense according to the advanced metrics from JFresh.
Swayman’s numbers are coming back around after the slow start, with his goals-against average dropping below three, and his save percentage is going above .900. When you look at Swayman dominating the goaltender ranks recently with both the raw numbers and advanced metrics, it’s no trouble to tell how this Bruins team has risen to first in the Atlantic Division.
If this is the real Jeremy Swayman, the Bruins will be just fine paying him $8.25 million over the next seven years. Even though the first year of the deal was a bust, the team in front of him also didn’t do him any favors.
If this Bruins team is for real, Swayman isn’t done with his redemption tour. It’d be crucial for the Bruins not to give him too many nights where he has to kill seven penalties and two 5-on-3s, but at least fans are starting to regain the trust they had in him when he proved to the front office that he was the guy during the 2024 playoffs.
It’s starting to look like the Bruins will undergo a quicker retooling than expected, and Swayman is a significant reason why.
In a surprising and heart-warming announcement, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II and his family have officially unveiled a $5 ticket day at Heinz Field — a move that fans are already calling “the most generous community gesture in franchise history.”
The special event is designed to give low-income families a rare chance to attend an NFL game at a price that’s almost unheard of in modern professional sports. For thousands of people across Pittsburgh, this may be their first-ever opportunity to experience the energy, noise, and atmosphere of a live Steelers home game.
Art Rooney II explained the motivation behind the initiative in a team statement:
“We want to open the doors of Heinz Field to everyone. Football isn’t just for those who can afford it — it’s a shared pride of the entire Pittsburgh community.”
Within minutes of the news breaking, social media erupted. Fans flooded X (formerly Twitter) with emotional reactions, calling the decision “historic,” “incredible,” and “a game-changer for the city.” One long-time supporter posted:
Sports analysts also praised the initiative, pointing out that this move goes far beyond football. It signals a powerful shift toward community engagement and accessibility at the highest level of American sports. One NFL analyst commented:
In addition to the $5 admission price, the Steelers are reportedly coordinating with local organizations to provide discounted transportation options, affordable meal packages, and a family-friendly zone inside the stadium. These added features underline the event’s community-centered purpose — turning it into more than just a game, but a genuine celebration for the city of Pittsburgh.
Demand for the tickets is expected to be overwhelming, with experts predicting a complete sell-out within minutes. Many believe the atmosphere on game day could be one of the most emotional and energized crowds in the stadium’s modern history.
With this bold gesture, Art Rooney II and his family aren’t just making headlines — they’re redefining what it means for an NFL franchise to give back. Their initiative positions the Pittsburgh Steelers as a team committed to equity, unity, and the belief that football should be shared by everyone.