Maine Professional Athletes

Jeremy Swayman is making Black Bears fans proud early in 2026–27, and for a few days this week, he looked like the best goaltender in the NHL.

The Maine alum turned in a performance for the highlight reel Sunday, Oct. 18, stopping 25 of 26 shots in a 4-1 Boston win over the Los Angeles Kings — good for a .962 save percentage on the night. David Pastrnak chipped in a goal and an assist, but it was Swayman who set the tone, keeping the Kings off the board until garbage time and delivering the Bruins their fifth consecutive victory. CBS Sports' NHL Power Rankings took notice, featuring Swayman prominently in its weekly assessment of a Boston squad punching above its weight in a loaded Atlantic Division.

The winning streak, however, hit a wall midweek. Swayman started against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, Oct. 21, making 22 saves but allowing three goals in a 3-2 loss — the team's first regulation defeat of the young season. He bounced back to start against Nashville on Thursday, Oct. 22, though full results from that game were not available at time of publication. Then on Saturday, Oct. 24, he was back between the pipes for a 6-4 loss to San Jose, stopping 23 of 27 in a game the Bruins' offense couldn't rescue. The Sharks loss snapped any momentum built by the streak, but Swayman's workload — starting four games in seven days — underscores just how central he is to Boston's plans.

The week's narrative is straightforward: when Swayman is locked in, the Bruins win. When he's asked to carry the team in high-volume stretches, the results get complicated. It's a dynamic Boston will need to manage across a long season.

Other Maine Alumni Around the League

Bradly Nadeau, the Hurricanes' young winger and another Black Bear, had a mixed week. He picked up an assist and a plus-1 rating in Carolina's 6-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, Oct. 21, showing flashes of the offensive upside that made him a first-round pick. His Monday outing against Calgary was rougher — a minus-2 in a 3-2 Hurricanes loss. He's still finding his footing at the NHL level, but contributing on a Hurricanes team with legitimate Cup aspirations is no small thing.

Ryan Lomberg, suiting up for the Columbus Blue Jackets on the wing, appeared in all three of his team's games this week without registering a point. He posted a minus-1 in Tuesday's lopsided 6-2 loss to Toronto. Lomberg's value has always been more about physicality and energy than production, but the Blue Jackets' tough week offered little for anyone in the lineup to hang their hat on.

For Maine fans scanning the NHL landscape, Swayman remains the headliner — a legitimate starting goaltender on a playoff-caliber team who drew national attention this week for good reason. The .962 save percentage against the Kings is the kind of number that ends up in season-highlight reels. Whether he can sustain that form over 60-plus starts is the question that will define Boston's season — and Maine's NHL story in 2026–27.

Two Maine Black Bears made noise across the NHL this week, with goaltender Jeremy Swayman anchoring the Bruins' net and forward Bradly Nadeau seizing a recall opportunity in Carolina.

Swayman Steady in Boston's Crease

Swayman turned in the week's marquee performance on Wednesday, stopping 35 of 38 shots in a 6-3 Boston win over San Jose — the headliner of the NHL's annual Frozen Frenzy event. His .921 save percentage wasn't flawless, but the Bruins' offense gave him more than enough room to work, and Swayman looked every bit the franchise cornerstone Boston paid for. He also drew the start against Anaheim on Saturday in a 4-2 Bruins victory, though the Bruins tapped Michael DiPietro as their projected starter for that matchup rather than leaning on Swayman as the automatic go-to.

Nadeau Gets His Shot in Carolina

While Swayman has been a fixture, Nadeau is still fighting to establish himself — but this week handed him an opening. The Hurricanes recalled the first-round pick as injuries continued to thin Carolina's forward corps, with Taylor Hall among the names added to a growing sidelined list. Nadeau didn't waste the opportunity: he posted an assist Saturday as the Hurricanes downed the Jets 3-2. It's a modest but meaningful contribution for a young player auditioning for a longer look with a contender.

Around the League

Ryan Lomberg continued grinding in Columbus this week. The winger posted a plus-1 in a 3-7 loss to Florida on Tuesday before suiting up again Saturday as the Blue Jackets hosted the Rangers. Neither performance will make headlines, but Lomberg's presence on an NHL roster remains a testament to the grinding, physical game that's kept him employed at the top level.

For Maine fans, the bigger picture is hard to miss: a Frozen Four program is quietly punching above its weight in the NHL. Swayman is a legitimate No. 1 goalie. Nadeau is a former first-round pick with upside still to unlock. And Lomberg is a veteran glue guy logging real minutes. That's three Black Bears contributing across three different rosters in a single week — not bad for a program in Orono.