The Bruins may not have reached their goal of a Stanley Cup when they had the best goaltending tandem in the NHL, but they won a lot of hockey games in those two years.

And each of those wins was punctuated by a demonstrative embrace between Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, the sweat-drenched starter and the dry, relaxed backup with a cap on the ball.

But on Saturday night, the goaltenders will meet as opponents for the first time as Ullmark returns to the Garden for the first time since being traded to the Ottawa Senators last summer.

Asked if it dawned on him that Ullmark was playing for another team creeping back into the picture as an Atlantic Division rival, Swayman laughed.

“He hasn’t hit yet,” Swayman said after Friday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena. “I still feel like I have his presence here and the traditions we have still live on. That’s with every guy that’s walked through this locker room and the relationships I’ve had with forwards, D-men and staff. This is a testament to the boys who have walked through this locker room and worn the jersey. We are brothers for life.”

The Ullmark-Swayman relationship was as symbiotic as the B’s had with their goalies. In Ullmark’s first season with the Bruins in 2021-22, Swayman was a rookie and they essentially split time, though there was the odd interlude when Tuukka Rask tried to come back from a lingering back injury four games.

The following season, it became a 1A-1B situation, with Ullmark playing 49 games while posting a 40-6-1 record with a 1.89 GAA and .938 save percentage, winning the Vezina Trophy that season .

But just as Ullmark reached his personal peak for a goalkeeper, it began to become clear that Swayman’s talents were blossoming. Last year was a straight goalie rotation in the regular season, but after Ullmark lost Game 2 against Toronto in the first round of the playoffs, Swayman got the ball for the rest of the run.

Many goalkeepers in Ullmark’s position might have grown resentful of the younger goalkeeper in that situation, but the opposite was true. He mentored Swayman and they became close friends. Swayman, a young, lonely guy, became a regular guest at the Ullmark family home.

It was an important relationship in Swayman’s development as a goalkeeper, which can be a lonely position at times.

“It’s to show what kind of character he has and his awareness to pick up those guys around him and see what they can do to help, with the experiences he’s been through and shed some light on me so I don’t the same mistakes or would have a little better awareness in certain situations,” Swayman said. “I will always be grateful for that and he knows it. I will still call him if I have any questions. It’s really great to see the success he’s had and will continue to have because of what he has between his ears.”

The Senators were scheduled to have a team dinner in Boston on Friday, but Swayman said he would try to “sneak in a little meeting” with Ullmark at some point.

Swayman said whenever he catches up with Ullmark during the season, which isn’t always easy, the casual conversations don’t have much to do with hockey.

“We’re stepping away from the hockey side because we both have work to do and schedules will collide,” Swayman said. “I’ve got a game one night, he’s got a game the other night, so it’s always good to check in with him as a human being and the outside noise, like finding another place to live and putting three children and of course. (Ullmark’s wife) Moa. There are a lot of factors going on for both sides. We have separate busy lives, but we also know that whenever we need a shoulder to lean on, we’re there for each other.”

Both players will be looking to get their games on track. Ullmark is 2-4 with an .892 save percentage and 3.02 GAA, while Swayman is 4-5-1 with an .894 save percentage and 3.14 GAA.

How and if the former tandem partners recognize each other on the ice remains to be seen. A hug on the ice at the end of the game would be too awkward for words. One of them will get an L after all.

A smiling Swayman said: “It’s always organic, so I guess you’ll have to wait and see. Take care.”

Kastelic bloom

Ullmark wasn’t the only player involved in the exchange, of course. In addition to the first-round pick that became Dean Letourneau, the B’s also got back Swayman’s new backup, Joonas Korpisalo, and center Mark Kastelic. Both played well for the B’s in the young season.

Kastelic, 3-4-7 in 14 games, will likely set new personal bests for offensive production – his previous best was 7-4-11 in Ottawa two seasons ago – while playing exactly the tough style the B’s were looking for.

“I think his offensive potential is much more surprising,” coach Jim Montgomery said. “His competitiveness, his willingness to be tough in all three zones is something I saw when I played against him when he was in Ottawa. And talking to a lot of coaches who have coached him, there isn’t a coach who didn’t love him. So I knew he would be a good fit as a Bruin.”

Kastelic has fond memories of the Senators organization.

“I think we’ve grown a lot,” Kastelic said. “It taught me a lot about being an NHL player. I am very grateful for everything they have done for me as a player, from the staff and management down. I owe them a lot for giving me the opportunity in the NHL. I had a great couple of years in Ottawa and Belleville. I definitely matured and felt like I learned how to be a professional there. I have nothing but kind things to say about the organization. You can clearly see that they are going in the right direction, so I wish them nothing but the best. I have many positive memories.”

Originally published: November 8, 2024 at 2:55 PM EST