Entering Friday’s contest with the Buffalo Sabres, including preseason, the Bruins had played in just five games since October 1. Linus Ullmark hadn’t seen any game action since October 6, the Bruins final preseason game of the season.

Making his regular season debut for the Bruins on Friday and against his former team nonetheless, Ullmark showed no signs of rust.

“I thought he was awesome. I think he held us in that game throughout the first two periods especially,” said defenseman Brandon Carlo. “There were some chances that we needed to clean up in front of our net a little bit. He was a brick wall tonight.”

While the Sabres on-ice talent may not equal the 3-0 record they entered Friday with, they’re still a team that puts a lot of pucks on net, averaging 36.24 shots per 60 minutes.

Friday was no different as Ullmark saw 36 shots, stopping 35 of them as the Bruins handed the Sabres their first lost of the season in a 3-1 victory.

The first period was by far the most difficult for Ullmark, making 15 saves in the process. His excellent work between the pipes kept the Bruins in the game, allowing them to jump out to an early 1-0 lead on David Pastrnak’s first of the season.

Tomas Nosek’s first as a Bruin later in the frame extended the lead to 2-0.

“Most of it was they were coming through the neutral zone too easily. We were loose with our third guy,” said head coach Bruce Cassidy. “Now their D are coming. And we were one-and-done at the other end. Now we were one-and-done to the tune of a couple goals, which obviously helps.”

Ullmark spent the first six seasons of his professional career in Buffalo before signing with the Bruins this off-season. Being a part of the Sabres organization throughout some of the organization’s darkest days, Ullmark has had plenty of nights to forget inside the KeyBank Center.

Friday’s victory, however, is one he’ll never forget. And, for more reasons than one.

“It’s definitely going to be one of those life-long memories, for sure. It was very special,” Ullmark said. “I wasn’t really thinking, it was more like an out-of-body experience it felt like in warmups and in the first (period). Anthems as well but then kind of settled in right as the puck dropped. It was enjoyable. It felt familiar, you know, just being on the other side this time.”

After a shaky preseason by Ullmark, rookie Jeremy Swayman got the start for the Bruins in their first two games of the season. Swayman was solid in their season opening win over the Dallas Stars last Saturday, before being rocked for six goals in Wednesday’s loss to the Flyers.

It was the perfect debut by Ullmark, one the Bruins needed. While still early, back-to-back ugly performances from each of your two goalies is not an ideal start to the season, especially with the 4-0 Sharks coming to town Sunday afternoon.

Given the contract Ullmark was signed to this summer, I think many were surprised to see Cassidy roll back to Swayman in Philadelphia this past Wednesday. Given the way Swayman and the rest of the team looked opening the season against Dallas, I think it was the right choice.

Until one of the two catches fire or goes ice cold, Cassidy may alternate goalies night in and night out. Ideally Swayman and Ullmark both perform well and push each other to be better.

Even if it came against the Sabres, Ullmark's debut was an impressive one. One to be excited about.

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