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Boston Bruins: Looking Back on Tuukka Rask’s Super Streak

By Dan Watkins

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 1: Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins in the net against the St. Louis Blues at the TD Garden on February 1, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 1: Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins in the net against the St. Louis Blues at the TD Garden on February 1, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Bruins points streak may have ended last week, but Tuukka Rask‘s personal streak has extended his personal point streak to a career high 20 games.

Turn the clock back to November 27th, the Boston Bruins we’re just dealt a 4-2 loss at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers. Leading up to that game, the Bruins had rattled off four straight wins, with Anton Khudobin being between the  pipes in all four games.

Khudobin at that point hadn’t lost in regulation, he was on fire to start the campaign boasting a 7-0-2 record to go along with a .932 SV % and a 2.22 GAA. Tuukka Rask on the other hand, was off to a rough start, going 3-8-2 with a .899 SV% and a 2.91 GAA.

The next game on the schedule was the first place Tampa Bay Lightning, Head Coach Bruce Cassidy made the decision to start Tuukka Rask, despite his early season struggles, and many talk radio hosts around the city screaming for Anton Khudobin to be named the number one goaltender.

Boston Bruins
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 29: Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy watches from the bench during a game between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 29, 2017, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeated the Lightning 3-2. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Tuukka Is Number One

Cassidy was questioned about his decision and the goalie situation in the days leading up to the game, but refused to give up on Rask. In one press conference he stated: “Tuukka’s our number one, Anton’s our backup, but our backup is pushing number one.”

Cassidy’s faith and decision was rewarded on that Wednesday night in late November, and on National TV nonetheless. Rask stopped 19 of 21 shots in the Bruins 3-2 victory, in what was the turning point of his season.

That win was the first in what is now a 20 game point streak for the Finnish netminder. In the 21 games he’s played in since (He came in to relieve Anton Khudobin in the 3rd period one game) Rask is 18-0-2, with two shutouts and has boasted a .942 SV% and a 1.59 GAA.

Boston Bruins
BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 3: Jake DeBrusk /

He has played his way into being a serious contender for the Vezina Trophy, which is annually given to the league’s top goaltender. Of those who will be eligible come seasons end, Rask ranks 6th in SV% (.925) 3rd in GAA (2.09) and 9th in wins (21).

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Rask’s current streak has made him just the 13th goalie in NHL history to achieve a points streak of at least 20 games. On top of that he currently sits fourth all-time in Bruins franchise history for point streak behind Gerry Cheevers (32 in 71-72) Pete Peeters (31 in 82-83) and Frank Brimsek (23 in 40-41)

The most important part of Rask’s streak is that the Bruins have climbed from being an after thought in the playoff picture, to having the second most points (70) in the Eastern Conference. I’d say it was a good idea by Cassidy to stick with his number one goalie.

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