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Boston Bruins: Gustavsson the key to the Bruins success

By Tanner Rebelo

Feb 14, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Jonas Gustavsson (50) makes a save during the third period of the game against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. The Wings defeated the Bruins 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Jonas Gustavsson (50) makes a save during the third period of the game against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. The Wings defeated the Bruins 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports /
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What is the biggest difference between last years Bruin’s team that missed the playoffs and this year’s team that is currently in the top seed in the eastern conference? One man Jonas Gustavsson, back up goaltenders tend to be under rated and most often enough fail to get the respect that they deserve. Last year the Boston Bruins had Niklas Svedberg as their back up goal tender a player who played his way out of the NHL and is currently playing in the KHL. Gustavsson has given Tuukka Rask the rest he needs on back to back nights a luxury that he was often denied last season when Svedberg was the back up.

Last season the Bruins fell apart at the end and missed the playoffs in the last game of the season. Rask was visibly tired last season towards the end of the year and clearly was not able to give his all every game due to the lack of trust the team had in Svedberg at the time. Rask’s ice time last year wore him down and that is one of the major reasons why that team failed to reach the playoffs.This season Rask has gotten the rest he has needed with Gustavsson playing good hockey and making good sound decisions. This might be due to the fact that Svedberg was a rookie and Gustavsson is a veteran who is used to playing at a high level.

How much better is Gustavsson? Last night he recorded 42 saves in a shut out OT win, his only shut out of the season. Svedberg in the 2014-2015 season surprisingly had two shut outs. Below is the side by side stats comparing the two back up goaltenders. Reminder that Jonas Gustavsson numbers are as of today with still 14 games to play in the season, while Svedberg’s are a whole season.

Screen Shot 2016-03-09 at 7.20.32 PM
Screen Shot 2016-03-09 at 7.20.32 PM /

By the amount of games that Gustavsson has played in comparison to the number Svedberg played it is easy to see the level of trust that Gustavsson is given from coach Claude Julian in the amount of starts he has been given over the amount Svedberg received in a whole season. Svedberg played well to start the season last year but failed to maintain his early success late in the season. Gustavsson has been as reliable as they come for back ups, with two more back to back games coming up to end the season look for Gustavsson to step up and keep the Bruins in the game.

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