Tuukka Rask named NHL’s Third Star For January.
Jan 31, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins goalie
Tuukka Rask(40) makes a
save
as Los Angeles Kings right wing
Dustin Brown(23) looks for the rebound during the first period at TD Garden. Mandatory
Credit
: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Bruins got themselves another boost in confidence. Earlier today, the National Hockey League announced that Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask was named Third Star of the Month for the month of January. Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin was First Star and New York Islanders forward John Tavares was the Second Star.
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Tuukka had a very strong January for the Black and Gold. Rask went 7-1-3 last month. In those eleven games he posted a fantastic .949 save percentage, making three hundred and thirty-six saves. He was scored on only eighteen times last month, giving him a 1.64 goals against average. He also had one shutout (against the New York Rangers). Rask was the best goaltender in the NHL last month, holding all his opponents to two or less goals in nine out of his eleven starts.
“He definitely was our best player in January,” offered Bruins forward Milan Lucic. “Last game, and here tonight, he definitely stepped his game up to the level that he’s capable of playing at. So he’s a huge part of our team — probably the most important part of our team, with his ability and his competitiveness. We’re grateful to have a guy like that between the pipes.”
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Rask’s dominating performance is the biggest reason the B’s have climbed up the Eastern Conference and back into playoff contention. While Rask had his own rough start this season, the twenty-seven year old has gotten back on track. He’s currently ranked twelfth is save percentage in the NHL, and is rapidly climbing back into the top ten.
So far this season, The Bruins primary netminder has forty-one starts for the Black and Gold. Rask’s overall record currently stands at 22-11-7. Two of those victories were shutouts. He currently has a 2.31 goals against average and .921 save percentage. He’s ranked tenth in the league with wins, fifth in overall saves, and eleventh in goals against average.
“It’s been happening a few games now, where we get scored on in a tight game and we just don’t change a thing,” said Rask after the 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. “We keep going, and today was a great example. Early in the year, we get scored on and then it took us five, 10 minutes to get back in the game. Now, it’s different, so that’s good. Like old times.”
On an unrelated note, it seems that defenseman Kevan Miller won the Bruins Patriots pool. He predicted a 27-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks. He was only off by a single point.