Ullmark reflects on emotional win over Bruins in return to Boston originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

BOSTON – Bruins fans still love Linus Ullmark, and they’ve made that very clear from the moment he stepped onto the TD Garden ice for a warm-up before Saturday night’s game.

It was Ullmark’s first start in Boston since the Bruins traded him to the Ottawa Senators in June. It was a successful return for the veteran goaltender, who helped the Senators earn a 3-2 victory in overtime with 14 saves on 16 shots.

He was the first player out of the tunnel when the Senators took the ice for warm-ups, and as soon as he appeared, the B fans immediately gave him a loud ovation.

Shortly after the Bruins came out for warmups, Ullmark and his former teammate Jeremy Swayman embraced with a hug and posed for a photo.

“It was a lot of fun,” Ullmark said after the game when asked about his pre-game interaction with Swayman. “It’s something I look back on and will take with me forever. I just had to enjoy the moment.”

The fans had a few more chances to show their appreciation for Ullmark.

They cheered the Swedish netminder energetically when his name was read during the starting lineup introduction, but they gave him their loudest applause — and a standing ovation — after the Bruins played a tribute video for Ullmark on the jumbotron during a first period. time-out.

Ullmark said the tribute video meant “a lot” to him, and that it was a very emotional setting overall.

“There were definitely a lot of emotions, I’m not going to lie,” Ullmark said after the game. “There was a lot, especially during the warm-up. I got goosebumps when I went out and heard the crowd again, and also then – just winning in this place is not easy. … You really want to bring your best game And we haven’t really done that lately, but I thought we really showed today what kind of team we are.”

The most important aspect of this game for Ullmark was that the Senators got the win. They entered Saturday in seventh place in the Atlantic Division.

Ullmark didn’t face many shots in his return to Boston, but he made some action when he needed to, including a fantastic save on a 2-on-1 opportunity for the B’s early in overtime. Brady Tkachuk scored the winning goal on Ottawa’s next rush up the ice.

Ullmark hasn’t had the best start to the season.

He has a 3-4-0 record with an .890 save percentage and a 2.87 GAA in seven starts. But it is a long season and the transition to a new team often takes time.

Ullmark was one of the league’s top goaltenders during his three seasons with the Bruins, including a Vezina Trophy win during the 2022-2023 season. If the Senators want to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2017, they will need Ullmark to consistently play at an elite level.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Saturday’s win gives Ullmark the momentum and confidence needed to continue a good streak and get the Senators’ season back on track.