Over 4 months in the past, Linus Ullmark found he’d been traded from the Boston Bruins to the Ottawa Senators, closing the door on an elite three-run run that noticed the 31-year-old cut up duties with Jeremy Swayman to kind the NHL’s greatest goalie tandem.
Quick ahead to Saturday evening and Ullmark returned to the place he as soon as known as dwelling, this time carrying Ottawa’s white, purple and black threads for the primary time on TD Backyard’s ice. It was an emotional return again for the 1000’s in attendance nonetheless stunned by the departure, and an much more particular evening for Swayman.
“It was a particular sport, I feel,” Swayman informed reporters after Boston’s 3-2 additional time loss to Ottawa, per team-provided audio. “We share such an unimaginable bond and to see him in one other jersey is totally different. I’m very blissful for him and the success he’s having, and I anticipated a sport like that — backwards and forwards. It’s enjoyable to look at him succeed.”
Boston skilled the brunt finish of Ullmark’s web protection because the 10-year veteran saved 14-of-16 pictures on aim from the Bruins in 60:21 minutes on the ice.
Ullmark and Swayman had been the basis of Boston’s protection, standing on the forefront in the course of the 65-win marketing campaign in 2022-23 that broke the NHL’s all-time regular-season victory report. That yr, Ullmark took dwelling the Vezina Trophy whereas the duo received the Jennings Trophy for the fewest objectives allowed within the league (172 mixed). Ullmark additionally made his first profession All-Star Sport after main the NHL in wins (21), GAA (1.86), and save share (.939) upon being chosen.
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The Ullmark-Swayman tandem additionally skilled the lows after using the eyes, sharing a gut-wrenching first-round elimination after the staff’s historic run two seasons in the past, in opposition to the Florida Panthers within the Stanley Cup playoffs. Coming into the primary non-Ullmark season was unusual in itself, particularly realizing the cut up would additionally imply the top of the enduring goalie hug beforehand used to have fun each Bruins win.
Earlier than puck drop Saturday evening, Ullmark and Swayman reunited on the ice for his or her first — and perhaps final — goalie hug as opponents, for outdated time’s sake.
“We knew that we had been gonna meet earlier than,” Swayman stated. “So actually blissful. It’s unimaginable to see the fanbase simply assist us a lot and what we created collectively and simply understand it’s by no means gonna be achieved once more in hockey. In order that’s one thing we’ll at all times share and have.”
Boston followers erupted in honor of Ullmark who additionally acquired an honorary video tribute from the Bruins, highlighting Ullmark’s shining moments with the staff. It was anticipated, however no much less particular for the person who gave the Spoked-B his all and departed leaving such a robust mark in such a short-lived tenure.
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“He deserved each little bit of that,” Swayman defined. “It simply goes to point out he’s a gifted goalie, an important human being and individuals are gonna assist that.”