Boston Bruins: Tuukka Rask Up To The Task
It’s safe to say that Tuukka Rask has been the best player for the Boston Bruins so far in the month of March. Rask has gone 2-0-1 so far with the Black and Gold in March. He’s posted a white-hot .942 save percentage in March, and (for the most part) is getting the support from the B’s forwards and defenseman to keep the Bruins opponents from scoring many goals.
“He was outstanding [against Ottawa]. He was really at his best, and it was one of those games where we really needed it. We might not have played our best, but we found a way to win,” said Claude Julien. “I know we’ve lost some games this year when we were a really dominant team, so it just goes to show you that these things weigh themselves out. We were the fortunate team to come out with the team, and you’ve got to thank your goaltender, as well as a guy like [Ryan] Spooner that scored two goals for us.”
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“[Rask] is, I guess, getting better with age right now, and he’s a goaltender that just keep maturing and becoming better in his role.” – Claude Julien on Tuukka Rask’s progression as a NHL goaltender
It’s been a bit of a disappointing season for Rask when you look at the numbers. His .922 save percentage is only good enough for twelfth place amongst NHL goaltenders this year. His goals against average (currently 2.31) is also currently twelfth in the league. Unless Rask has an amazing string of shutouts or one-goal games, the defending Vezina trophy winner is unlikely to be nominated as a finalist this year.
Rask’s ranking is certainly not entirely his fault. The defensive game the Bruins usually adhere to has had plenty 0f stops and starts this season. The defensive breakdowns often put Rask in a bad position and caused goals to be scored. In the last few weeks, Tuukka has picked himself up and helped carry the team to a widening lead over teams like the Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, and the Philadelphia Flyers.
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Currently the Bruins hold a six point lead over the Panthers going into the toughest part of the Bruins home stretch. Rask knows it’s going to be about taking this challenge game-by-game, and doing whatever he can to get those two points every night.
“We got the points we wanted,” said Rask after the Ottawa game. “It might not have been the best game for us, but we battled and kept the lead we secured in the second period. It what everybody always talks about: you have to be playing your best when you go into the playoffs. We’re heading in that direction. It’s still a long way to go, but it’s definitely [good] feeling better about your game than feeling hesitant.”