One of the biggest reasons for the Boston Bruins turnaround the last 17 games has been the play between the pipes. What could it mean come April?
The William M. Jennings Trophy is the NHL award given to the goaltenders who played at least 25 games on the team who allowed the fewest goals throughout the season. Boston Bruins goalies have won the award twice since its inception in 1981-1982.
Andy Moog and Reggie Lemelin won the award in 1989-1990. The two goaltenders gave up a total of 230 goals in a season that saw the Bruins lose to the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final. Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez combined to win the trophy in 2008-2009, only allowing 185 goals for the year. Side note: a bright-eyed, baby-faced, 21 year-old goaltender started only one game that season and notched a 35 save shutout. His name? Tuukka Rask.
Last season, Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals was declared the winner of the award. Holtby and Phillip Grubauer allowed a league leading 177 goals, a crazy 2.16 goals per game. Grubauer got the shaft a bit not having his name on the trophy, having only played in 24 games during the season. In fact, Grubauer (at .926 save percentage and 2.04 GAA) had better split numbers than Holtby (.925 save percentage and 2.07 GAA). The goalies gave up 170 goals, and 7 empty netters were scored.
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Tuukka and Anton on the prowl
Through 34 games this season, the Bruins have allowed 88 goals, or 2.59 goals against per game. Tuukka Rask has allowed 51 goals in 23 games played, and Anton Khudobin has allowed 29 goals in 13 games played. They are currently 5th in the league in that statistic, behind the Los Angeles Kings (2.30), San Jose Sharks (2.44), Tampa Bay Lightning (2.46), and St. Louis Blues (2.47).
Those four teams ahead of the Bruins have been at the top of their Division and/or conference all season. The Bruins spent the majority of the first quarter of the season well on the outside of the playoff picture looking in due to their inconsistent play.
But the last 17 games have been a bona fide hot streak for the Bruins. The team is 13-3-1 in those 17 games, and they have moved into 3rd in the Atlantic Division. They are well ahead of the teams behind them, and fighting with Toronto for the 2nd spot. The reason for the turnaround? The play of Rask and Khudobin.
In that 17 game stretch, the team has only allowed 34 goals, or exactly 2 goals per game. Rask has given up 17 goals, and has a .942 save percentage and a 1.60 GAA. Khudobin has allowed 15 goals, and sports a .924 save percentage and a 2.32 GAA. If the Bruins continue on this trajectory, only allowing 2 goals per game on average for the remainder of the season, Rask and Khudobin could take home some hardware. There’s no telling if Khudobin will make it to 25 games played. He needs 12 more, and there are 7 more sets of back-to-back games this season.
With 48 games left, and therefore 96 goals scored, the Bruins goals allowed total would be 184. This isn’t too far off from last season’s winning total by the Capitals. Considering goal scoring is up to 5.92 total goals per game, up from 5.53 total goals per game last season, it’s likely the Jennings Trophy winning number will also be higher.
Obviously, this a best case scenario. It would be incredibly difficult for the Bruins to maintain a 2 goals allowed per game pace. But the way the Bruins have played over the last 17 games, I’ve learned to stop doubting what this team is capable of.