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Boston Bruins 2021 Player Grades: Tuukka Rask was great again

By Matt Hawkins |
May 31, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) makes a save during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Islanders at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
May 31, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) makes a save during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New York Islanders at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

With our next installment of Boston Bruins 2021 Player Grades, we take the time to analyze the 2020-21 season of goaltender Tuukka Rask.

Going into the 2020-21 season, Tuukka Rask was once again dealing with adversity. After putting up a league-leading 2.12 goals-against average (GAA) and .929 save percentage (SV%) for the regular season of 2019-20, Rask struggled in the postseason and then made the decision to leave the Toronto bubble after just four games for a medical emergency involving his daughter.

Many fans didn’t like the fact that Rask has a life outside of hockey and irrationally questioned his loyalty to both the sport and team. However, Rask once again ignored the noise like he has the majority of his career and continued to perform at a high level this season.

In 24 games (all starts) this season, Rask was very good. He wasn’t as good as last season but this can be attributed to the defensive issues the team was having because of injuries and inexperience, and Rask’s own nagging injuries that he played through.

Put some respect on Tuukka Rask’s name.

Despite injuries to himself and the team in front of him, Rask gave the B’s a chance to win in most of the games he played. The man tore his hip labrum during the playoffs and still gave his team a fighting chance while playing through the serious injury.

During the season, Rask played through a back injury, and according to him, the hip injury that eventually turned into the torn hip labrum.

So, I would say it’s quite impressive that Rask posted a .913 SV%, 2.28 GAA, .667 quality start percentage (QS%), and two shutouts over his 24 games this season. In the playoffs, he added 11 games with a .919 SV%, 2.36 GAA, and .636 QS%.

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So yeah, while he wasn’t as good as last season and honestly might now be the same goalie he once was, he’s still very good. And who knows, maybe if fans didn’t give him so much hate for leaving the bubble last postseason he wouldn’t have tried playing through a series injury this postseason.

Grade: A-

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