Boston Bruins Jonas Gustavsson Undefeated In 2016

Boston Bruins Jonas Gustavsson Undefeated In 2016

When a team has a franchise goaltender like Tuukka Rask, it is believed that the backup goalie does not have to necessarily be excellent. Since they will play a limited amount of games, most likely against weaker teams in the league, the backup goalie should not get paid very much and does not have to be outstanding.

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This mindset that general managers have does work at times and has worked for the Boston Bruins in the past. However, for the Bruins, this season has proven that having a reliable back up goalie can make all the difference, no matter how good your starter is.

Jonas Gustavsson has been more than a solid option for Claude Julien when Rask is in need of a break. With a current record of 8-3-1, Gustavsson has allowed the Bruins to have confidence in whoever is in net by putting together, for the most part, consistent performances. Like Rask, Jonas Gustavsson is not a flashy goaltender, he just knows where to go and where he ought to be in any given play. In the seven games that the Boston Bruins have played in January, only two of those games have been victories. Both of those games featured Jonas Gustavsson in net.

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Now, this isn’t to say that it is only the fault of Tuukka Rask, who has not won a game in the year 2016 yet. As said before, the starting goaltender faces more games and harder teams than the backup. Also, with the exception of the nightmare matchup against the Montreal Canadiens, all of Tuukka Rask‘s losses have been one goal games in which Rask never let in more than three goals.

By no means am I implying that Rask is struggling and Gustavsson should take over. I am simply stating that signing Jonas Gusavsson to a professional tryout, and then to a one year deal, was one of the better decisions new GM Don Sweeney has made this year.

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For Jonas Gustavsson to be able to get two wins in his last two starts, when every other game the Bruins have played in January has resulted in a loss, says a lot about how confident the team is when he is on the ice. Hopefully the team can build on their most recent win and collect some more points. However, if the team continues to struggle, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to throw Gustavsson into another game sometime soon, even if it is not a back to back affair.

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