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3 Reasons for the Bruins Early Season Success

By Scott Roche

Aug 12, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second overtime in game one of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Carolina Hurricanes in the second overtime in game one of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 1, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana (13) shoots the puck on Boston Bruins goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) in the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2021; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana (13) shoots the puck on Boston Bruins goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) in the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Goalies are keeping the Bruins in each game.

Over the last two seasons, the Bruins have had arguably the best goaltending duo in the NHL. Last season, Rask and Halak combined to win the William Jennings Trophy, given to the goaltenders that have played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals allowed. In 70 games in 2019-20, they gave up just 174 goals.

This season, they have picked up where they left off in the regular season. Rask is 5-1-1 with a 2.36 goals-against average (GAA) and a .898 save percentage (SV%). His one regulation loss was against the New York Islanders when he made 16 saves in a 1-0 loss. The only goal he gave up was by Jean-Gabriel Pageau in the third period when he batted the puck into the net. That is the only night to date where the Bruins offense failed to find the back of the net.

In Friday night’s 2-1 win over the Flyers, Rask stopped Joel Farabee on a penalty shot in the second period to keep the game scoreless at the time.

Halak has been solid in the four games that he has played. He is 3-0-1 with a 1.72 GAA and a .923 SV%. His only loss was a 2-1 setback in his first game of the year against the New Jersey Devils when he gave up a breakaway goal with one second left in OT.

In his three wins, he has allowed five goals on 60 shots in beating the Capitals, Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Once again, Halak is proving to be the game’s best backup.

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Both goalies are in the final years of their contracts. Rask’s eight-year, $56 million contract expires following the season, and Halak’s one-year, $2.25 million deal is also up. Going forward, there are a lot of questions surrounding their futures, but if Rask continues to play as he has, it might be tough for him to not want to return for another couple of years with the Bruins.

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