So far the 2018 NHL playoffs have been pretty impressive for Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. With a game seven win under his belt over Toronto, Rask is enjoying early success over the Eastern Conference leaders Tampa Bay Lightning. In this post, we’ll discuss three areas the Bruins and Rask need to focus on in order to advance to the next round.
Is It Still To early To Trust Tuukka Rask Only Time Will Tell?
Previous Playoff Experience;
If history is any indicator of how players or teams are then Bruins have time against them. Bruins fans share painful memories of the 2010 collapse against Philadelphia. The sad part of that series was that the Bruins were up 3-0 only to have Rask give up fifteen goals in four periods for an 839 save percentage.
And who could forget the 2012 catastrophe against Chicago? The Bruins were up 3-2 only to lose to the Black Hawks in seven. in that series, Rask was responsible for six goals in the last two games. Considering Rask had a fairly good game five the end was in Chicago’s favour.
In 2013 against the Canadiens Rask did not fare any better. Boston had a 3-2 series lead where Rask let in four goals on thirteen shots simply to send the Bruins home for a lengthy vacation. The succeeding season had the Bruins facing the Canadiens for the second _season in a row. With an experienced Rask in the net, the result was a triumph for Montreal in game seven at Boston. Rotating Goalies;
Early in the 2017/18 season, 1st _year coach Bruce Cassidy decided to rotate Rask with backup goalie Anton Khudobin. Khudobin filled in brilliantly when called upon with a 16-6 record and 2.47 Goals Against. The only drawback on Khudobin is he only has one playoff game under his belt and no record to show for it. This method seemed to work for the Bruins as Cassidy pulled Rask in game five against Toronto and the Bruins collecting their first playoff series win since their Stanley Cup year in 2011.
Boston vs. Tampa Bay;
Bruce Cassidy’s system of rotating goalies has so far worked in the Bruins favour, The question is how will Khudobin respond to pressure cookers as the playoffs go deeper and deeper. Many Bruins fans feel that Cassidy is pressing the right buttons and continue rotating the two netminders. The difference between this year and previous years is Rask is well rested not So far the 2018 NHL playoffs have been pretty impressive for Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask. With a game seven win under his belt over Toronto, Rask is enjoying early success over the Eastern Conference leaders Tampa Bay Lightning.
If the Bruins and captain Zdeno Chara Expect to carry the Stanley Cup around the TD Garden ice then Rask and teammates will have to learn how to win under playoff pressure.
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