The NHL made a rule change before the 1965-66 season that stated, “teams are required to dress two goaltenders for each regular-season game”. The rule brought in an era of goalie tandems, instead of a single goalie playing all or the bulk of a team’s games. A good pairing can add to morale and success, as well as giving netminders proper rest and recovery time.
The Boston Bruins goalie situation is in question, as their tandem of the past three seasons has been broken up, with Linus Ullmark being traded to the Ottawa Senators in the summer, and Jeremy Swayman remaining unsigned. So as the Bruins decide their future between the pipes, here is a list of the top 10 goaltending tandems in Bruins history.
10. Pete Peeters & Doug Keans
Coming off of a 40-win, Vezina season in 1982-83, Pete Peeters needed some relief and legitimate back-up in net. Peeters played in 63 of the 80 regular season games and all 17 playoff games. In May 1983, the Bruins signed Los Angeles Kings depth-goaltender, Doug Keans, off waivers for just $100.
Keans did not make much of an impression in Los Angeles, nor was he given the opportunity to. In the 1983-84 season, he broke out and went 19-8-3 with a .883 SV% and a 3.11 GAA, and posted two shutouts. Peeters fell off just a bit from the previous season, but still went 29-16-2 with a .876 SV% and a 3.16 GAA. The Bruins landed in first place, but got swept in the Division Semi-Finals by the Montreal Canadiens. Peeters was in net for all three losses, recording a .853 SV% and a 3.33 GAA.
In 1984-85, the Bruins fell from first place to fourth in the standings. Peeters only won 19 games, the first time he had under 20 wins since the 1978-79 season. Keans had a solid season, going 16-6-3 and then led the B’s into the Division Semi-Finals against the Canadiens, losing the series 3-2. Keans went 2-2 with a .864 SV% and a 3.78 GAA. Peeters was in net for game three of the series, losing 4-2.
On November 14, 1985, the Bruins traded Peeters to the Washington Capitals for goaltender, Pat Riggin. Keans continued to play on the Bruins until his final game in 1988.