Jakub Lauko of the Bruins Responds To Jeremy Swayman’s Hug Snub

A Vancouver Canucks player had different views on Friday about the NHL All-Star Weekend, which is supposed to be a celebration of the game and an opportunity for fans to watch entertaining exchanges between the best players in the league.

During the skills competition, Jeremy Swayman and David Pastrnak, representing the Boston Bruins, encountered taunts from Maple Leafs supporters in Toronto.

Before the match, Swayman showed up wearing the goalie hug tradition that fans had been accustomed to with Linus Ullmark. Thatcher Demko’s firing of Swayman came before the embraces between Igor Shesterkin and Connor Hellebuyck, even though Jake Oettinger and Alexandar Georgiev complied. Bruins supporters were clearly incensed by the Canucks All-Star’s hug snub, but a club favorite replied appropriately.

Demko may have had a competitive advantage because Boston and Vancouver were tied for the most points in the NHL at the All-Star break. It’s feasible that the Bruins and Canucks will face off in this year’s Stanley Cup final. Fans only need to look to the 2011 Stanley Cup final to understand there is a history of hostility between the teams.

The seeds for a resurgence of the rivalry may have been sown on Friday night, and they may continue when the Canucks visit TD Garden on Thursday to play the Bruins for the first time this season. After his snub of Swayman, B’s supporters will probably be expecting to welcome Demko to Boston with open arms.

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