BOSTON – Jeremy Swayman was the first player introduced before the Bruins’ home opener Thursday night, and he brought the ice to a huge ovation.

No hard feelings among Boston fans about the contract extension that kept him out of training camp until he signed a $66 million contract on Sunday, two days before the season started.

“It’s incredible to be able to play in this building again. It’s a huge gratitude,” Swayman said after stopping 21 shots to lead the Bruins to a 6-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

“It was quite emotional, that warm welcome,” he said. “And it just shows what kind of fanbase we have here, knowing that it’s more than just a player, it’s a human being that they care about. And I got pretty emotional when I finally stepped on that ice and that roar again heard.”

Swayman was tagged for a pair of goals midway through the first period and then gave up a pair more in the third, as Montreal cut a three-goal deficit to 5-4 on Brendan Gallagher’s second goal of the game with 4:17 to go. Mark Kastelic scored 17 seconds later to secure the win.

Swayman also gave Montreal forward Nick Suzuki a little shove to push him out of the crease late in the second period, but the linesman quickly moved in to separate them.

“It’s a bit slow for me to go that way. So I needed some balance help there,” the goalkeeper said, laughing. “I have different tactics to get myself into the game – obviously talking to my guys and talking to the referees and doing my thing, bringing my swagger and my composure to the building and I know then I’ll be on my best play.”

Swayman was Linus Ullmark’s backup in Boston’s record-setting 2022-2023 season; the two alternated last year, when Swayman made 43 starts in the regular season with a 2.53 goals-against average before winning the No. 1 job in the playoffs.

Swayman, a restricted free agent, had missed all of training camp before agreeing to an eight-year deal for $8.25 million per year, which puts him among the top five goaltenders in the NHL for average annual value.

He had just one practice with the team before the opening game, and backup Joonas Korpisalo played and gave up six goals in Tuesday’s season-opening 6-4 loss to defending Stanley Cup champion Florida. As the Panthers, who have knocked Boston out of the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, opened up a 5-1 lead, their fans chanted “We want Swayman!”

“They’re going to use their tactics to be part of the game, and they’ve done a good job,” Swayman said. “I want to play every game. I want to be in the net every chance I can get. So I’m excited to get that opportunity.”

Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said he liked what he saw from Swayman, adding that some of the goals were defensive.

“Jeremy Swayman was good,” he said. “He made the saves he could.”