Boston Bruins: It’s Jonas Gustavsson’s Job To Win
When Jonas Gustavsson was first signed to a professional tryout contract, Bruins fans were skeptical. Gustavsson had a history of injuries and hadn’t been able to crack the .910 save percentage mark in his career. Now, the 31-year old netminder could be just one game away from being the Boston Bruins new number two goaltender.
More from Bruins News
- Bruins release Prospects Challenge roster, schedule Tuesday
- Bruins bringing back familiar forward on tryout contract
- The Bruins should take a look at these four free agents
- NHL Network lists Ullmark as sixth-best goalie in the league
- The Lasting Legacy of David Krejci
Gustavsson was in a neck and neck race with Providence Bruins goaltender Jeremy Smith for the number two job. Last week, Smith allowed three goals on twenty-five shots in a shootout win over the Rangers at the TD Garden. A solid performance against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden tonight could make him the new number one contender.
Gustavsson was back in Detroit the last couple of days waiting for his first child to be born. He came back to the team the other day, and is excited both for the baby and his opportunity to show the Bruins what he is capable of.
“It was my first one. So it was an exciting couple of days, and everything went smoothly,” said Gustavsson, who said he and his wife hadn’t yet settled on a name quite yet. “Everyone is healthy, so we’re excited. We knew coming into camp that if the baby wasn’t born before camp then I’d be gone for a day or two in camp.
“It’s something we knew. Hockey is obviously important, but I feel like family always comes first. I went out there, and then flew back with the team from Detroit. So it worked out well there. I guess I was supposed to play that game against the Rangers at home, but we all knew the day [of the baby’s birth] would come sooner or later. I’m just glad things went well, and I can focus on hockey now.”
Live Feed
Puck Prose
A solid performance from the Swedish netminder tonight would certainly be a morale boost for the team. The B’s are coming off a 3-1 loss to Detroit where everything seemed to go be off for the Black and Gold. The veteran players just seemed disconnected, and Tuukka Rask was obviously rusty.
Gustavsson has been the only consistent goaltender so far in training camp. While he understands what the stakes are, the new father just wants to take it one game at a time.
“I’m just trying to get better every time I go out there,” said Gustavsson. “I just go out and try to help the team win a game, and then everything else will sort itself out. You can’t worry about what’s going to happen if I do this, or if I do that. My part in this is to go out there and be the best goalie I can be, and try to push myself to the next level.”