When the Bruins took the ice for Wednesday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena, it was Brandon Bussi, not Vezina Trophy favorite Linus Ullmark, in the crease opposite Jeremy Swayman.

Recalled from Providence on an emergency basis for the second time in less than a week, the Bruins have confirmed that the 24-year-old Bussi will join the team for their regular season finale in Montreal on Thursday night.

A 6-foot-5 netminder, Bussi rejoins the Big B’s amidst a 2022-23 season that’s come with 21 victories, along with a .925 save percentage and 2.38 goals against average, in 31 games with Providence.

But what, if anything, does that mean in regards to Ullmark?

• Lifted from the third period of Tuesday’s win over the Capitals with some obvious lower-body discomfort, Ullmark did not return to the bench by the final horn, did not come out for his famous post-win goalie hug with Swayman, and did not hand off his game jersey in the annual ‘shirts off our backs’ the Bruins participate in in their final home game of the regular season. Swayman handed off an Ullmark jersey to the lucky winner in his place.

  But Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery did his part to calm any anxiety over Ullmark’s status following the win, saying that it was precautionary on the part of the team and that Ullmark would be fine. Montgomery continued that messaging following Wednesday’s Ullmark-less session in Brighton, too.

  “Linus is good today,” Montgomery said ahead of the team’s trek up to Montreal. “But we’re going to be precautionary with him and he’s not going to come on the trip.”

• 

  Mar 21, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) makes a save in front of Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) during the second period at TD Garden. (Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports)

• Before we all start losing our heads, it’s worth mentioning that Game 82 was seemingly always expected to be an off day for Ullmark, especially after the team gave him the starting nod Tuesday against the Capitals.

  The Bruins have prioritized a healthy balance in net for about two months now, and while Thursday was always a ‘TBDBB” (to be decided by Bob Essensa, as Montgomery put it), Ullmark getting back-to-back starts this late in the year and with the playoffs around the corner wouldn’t have made much sense.

  It’s also worth noting that the Bruins have been ultra-cautious with all of their players who are even a touch below 100 percent, with David Krejci, who has not played since Apr. 1, ruled out for the remainder of the regular season.

  As for what this means for Game 82, the Bruins are leaning towards giving the start to Swayman over Bussi, according to Montgomery. Pure speculation here, but you could make the argument that the Bruins wouldn’t do that and risk potential injury to Swayman in a truly meaningless game if the Bruins didn’t think they’d have Ullmark on the ice and ready to go for Game 1 next Monday or Tuesday night at TD Garden.

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  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 06: Jeremy Swayman #1 of the Boston Bruins and Linus Ullmark #35 celebrate after the Bruins defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in overtime at TD Garden on April 06, 2023. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

• As for Ullmark, however, all eyes will now turn to Saturday morning when the Bruins are expected to hit the ice for their first (and perhaps only) practice ahead of the start of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

  The 6-foot-5 Ullmark, who recorded his 40th win of the season last night, is expected to finish the year as the NHL’s league leader in wins (40), save percentage (.938), and goals against average (1.89). That will make him the NHL’s first ‘Triple Crown’ winner in net since the Canadiens’ Carey Price in 2015.

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