No. 1 – Tuukka Rask
Ok, I know you’re probably saying, seriously? Well if we learned anything from the first round, it’s that goaltending can win you a series, but it can also lose you a series. Just ask the Capitals and Penguins.
Against Boston, a trio of Caps goalies combined to lose four of the five games, two in overtime, and giving up some shaky goals. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, felt Washington’s pain in Game 5 against the Isles when Tristan Jarry misplayed a puck early in overtime, which led to a game-winning goal and a 3-2 series deficit. The Pens lost Game 6 on the road with Jarry surrendering five more goals.
On the other hand against the Capitals, Tuukka Rask was on top of his game in the whole series, despite the Bruins losing Game 1, 3-2, in overtime. Rask stopped 159 of the 169 shots he faced, and finished with a 1.81 goals-against average (GAA) in the series with a .941 save percentage (SV%).
Rask has backbone two trips to the Stanley Cup Final for Boston and despite coming up short both times, the veteran should be ready to go against the Islanders. If he is able to come close to repeat his Round 1 effort, the Bruins will be very difficult to beat.