The Ottawa Senators will head to TD Garden tomorrow night to take on the Boston Bruins after losing 4-2 last night to the New York Islanders. For one player, it will be an emotional game.
Linus Ullmark spent the past three seasons of his career in Boston where his career turned around for the better. Ullmark helped the Bruins made the playoffs in all three seasons he was in Boston, and won the 2023 Vezina Trophy.
In June 2024, the Senators made a blockbuster trade with the Bruins to acquire the former Vezina Trophy winner, and it will be an emotional game for Ullmark with making his first trip to TD Garden since the trade happened.
Ullmark to be overcome with emotion in return to Boston for the first time since the Senators-Bruins trade in June 2024
Homecomings are always emotional, but for Ullmark, returning to Boston will hit different. Ullmark had his career turnaround for the better with a popular franchise in the NHL like the Bruins.
Ullmark had a 2.76 goals against average in 117 games played with the Buffalo Sabres from 2015-2021, but didn't quite impress enough the Sabres enough to re-sign him prior to the 2021-22 season. Ullmark joined the Bruins in 2021 where his career was saved.
In his three seasons in Boston, Ullmark recorded a 2.28 goals against average and .924 save percentage. In his Vezina Trophy winning season, Ullmark recorded a stupendous 1.89 goals against average and .938 save percentage.
Ullmark's goaltending partner was Jeremy Swayman, and the two of them were a dynamic duo. However, both of them haven't been the same since the trade was made in June.
Swayman has a 4-5-1 record with a 3.14 goals against average and .894 save percentage this season. For Ullmark, he's struggled this season with a 4-6-0 record and a 3.02 goals against average and .892 save percentage. While both goaltenders are having under par seasons to start, tomorrow night's game is a big game already in November for the standings in the Eastern Conference.
The Senators are struggling with a 6-7-0 record and the Bruins are 7-7-1. Both teams aren't living up to the potential that they are capable of living up to. Tomorrow's game offers one team to get an edge over the other, and start showing signs of potential. Game time for tomorrow night is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.