Tuukka Rask: Early Vezina Buzz is deserved.

Nov 19, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) makes a save against the New York Rangers during the third period at Madison Square Garden. The Boston Bruins defeated the New York Rangers 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s be honest folks. The Bruins didn’t deserve to win this one. They were outplayed, outmaneuvered, and out shot every point of this game. It was frustrating to watch the Bruins play at a level that looked more like a beer league than the NHL. Fortunately, the one place the Rangers were clearly outmatched was in net.

Tuukka Rask tied his career high with forty three saves tonight. Tuukka was everywhere. If you watched the game on NESN, you got to hear Jack Edwards use every form of “Save by Rask!” in his repertoire. Even now, you know the Bruins are apologizing to and thanking Rask in turn after the game.

Tuukka Rask should by all rights be a candidate for the Vezina trophy. Look at the stats he has put up the first quarter of the season. He’s 12-5-1 in his starts. He’s put up two shutouts for Boston. His save percentage is an obscene .946%, and he’s rocking a solid 1.61 goals against average. That puts Rask in the top five across the board for all categories for goaltenders.

I was a little surprised to see him in the net tonight. I figured the Bruins were going to go for Chad Johnson in net against the Rangers. It seems Tuukka was lobbying hard to get the back to back starts for Boston. He felt he had done a disservice to the Bruins after their shutdown in their 4-2 loss against the Ottawa Senators.  He was solid in a 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, and his was unbelievable in the 2-1 win over the Rangers.

Tuukka Rask has to be a contender for the Vezina with the way he has been playing this year. He’s certainly put a stamp on being the starting goaltender for Finland in the Sochi Olympics next February. He was a big contract for us and he’s proven he has been worth every penny this season.