Watch: Linus Ullmark shares hug with Jeremy Swayman, salutes Bruins fans in return to TD Garden
Ullmark and Swayman shared an embrace ahead of Saturday's game at TD Garden.
Jeremy Swayman kept his cards close to his chest on Friday when asked if another on-ice embrace with ex-Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark was in the cards during their anticipated reunion at TD Garden.
“I guess you’ll have to wait and see,” Swayman said with a laugh when asked if another post-game hug was in the works. “Keep you on your toes.”
While their patented post-win festivities may not be feasible now that Ullmark dons a Senators sweater, the duo did share a friendly embrace ahead of puck drop on Saturday night.
Shortly after warmups commenced at TD Garden, Ullmark made his way over to Swayman near both benches — giving each other a quick hug before posing for a photo together.
Ullmark and Swayman shared Boston’s net for three seasons — with the duo forging a close friendship and becoming arguably the best goalie tandem in the NHL.
Over those three seasons, the Bruins posted an overall record of 163-58-25 and averaged 117 points per year. While Swayman quickly established himself as one of the top young goalies in the NHL, Ullmark’s sterling numbers and veteran presence allowed Swayman to develop on his own timeline.
“It goes to show what kind of character he has,” Swayman said of Ullmark, who took home a Vezina Trophy with Boston during the 2022-23 season. “Just his awareness to pick up those guys around him and see what he could help with — with the experiences that he’s gone through, and shed some light so I wouldn’t make the same mistakes or would have a little bit of a better way in different situations.”
Ullmark, who was traded to Ottawa in June in exchange for a 2024 first-round pick, Joonas Korpisalo, and Mark Kastelic, earned the start on Saturday against Swayman and Boston.
During the first media timeout, Ullmark received a video tribute, highlighting some of his top saves, as well as his goalie goal against the Canucks on Feb. 25, 2023 — the first in Bruins franchise history.
Once the video concluded and the TD Garden crowd erupted in cheers, Ullmark skated out on the ice and raised his stick in salute to Bruins fans.
Despite the warm sentiment shared in the early stages of Boston’s matchup against Ottawa, the Bruins are trying to capitalize off of a slow start for Ullmark. Entering Saturday’s game, Ullmark has lost four of his last five games — sporting an .873 save percentage over that stretch.
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