Boston Bruins: Vladar Deserves Another Start

When Boston Bruins No. 1 goalie Tuukka Rask went down with an undisclosed injury on March 7 against the New Jersey Devils, a majority of the goaltending duties fell on the shoulders of backup Jaroslav Halak.

Halak started the last four games following Rask’s injury, but for the first time since the injury, the Bruins were facing their first set of back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Coach Bruce Cassidy went with Halak in the opening game Monday night and the veteran netminder gave up two goals he would like to have back in a 4-1 loss to the Penguins. In the previous three games in place of Rask, Halak gave up one goal in a shootout loss to the New York Islanders and shutout the New York Rangers. Two days later, he got no support in a 4-0 loss to the same Rangers.

For the current four-game road trip the Black and Gold is currently on, they brought up rookie Jeremy Swayman from the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League as the third goaltender. Swayman has been extremely impressive in his first AHL season, going 7-0-0 with a 1.57 goals-against average (GAA) and a .942 save percentage (SV%).

Cassidy on Tuesday announced that Vladar would start Tuesday’s game and the 6-foot-5 goalie turned in about as impressive a performance as one could in his first NHL start.

Bruins need to Vladar another start against the Sabres.

Vladar turned back 34 of the 35 shots fired at him by Pittsburgh, including quite possibly the save of the year to date in the first period. With Boston ahead 1-0 on an early David Pastrnak power play goal, the Penguins had offensive zone pressure, and forward Colton Sceviour had the puck on his stick looking at an open net. With his shot destined for the back of the net, Vladar swung his body and stick around and knocked the shot out of the air and behind the net.

Vladar looked very comfortable in net the whole night and made 15 first-period saves, nine in the second, and 11 more in the third. He did a nice job of controlling some of the rebounds and got help from his defensemen. He even got help from the goal post in the second period when Mark Jankowski hit the post on a shorthanded breakaway and the game tied 1-1.

The Bruins head to Buffalo for two games with the struggling Sabres Thursday night and Saturday afternoon. Halak will most likely be back between the pipes for Thursday’s game, but Cassidy should give Vladar Saturday’s game to keep his confidence going. If anything, Vladar has earned about another shot in the net before Rask returns.