Rask first star
Big reason for Bruins’ successful start
DENVER — Tuukka Rask is on an early path toward winning the second Vezina Trophy of his career, and he is carrying the Bruins to the kind of 2016-17 start not even the most passionate fans could have predicted.
The 29-year-old Rask yesterday was named the NHL’s first star for last week, during which he was 4-0-0 with a 0.75 goals-against average and .970 save percentage. Two of his wins were shutouts.
Those stats would have looked even better if chagrined teammate Colin Miller hadn’t shot one puck past him into his own net.
And Rask has backed a B’s squad that, with the exception of Thursday’s 5-2 win against Columbus, has had to protect small leads until the final horn despite producing a bundle of scoring chances in every game.
Rask didn’t always deliver the game-saving stop last season, but he’s doing it night after night so far.
“I can’t say enough about that guy,” center David Krejci said after scoring the first goal in Rask’s 2-0 win against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
“He’s been really good so far, keeping us in the game every single game. Sometimes you only need 1-2 goals to win the game. It’s good to see him playing that well. Hopefully he can keep it up.”
Their three-game winning streak had to make yesterday’s rare day away from hockey on the road enjoyable. The B’s will practice this morning at the University of Denver — home of the top-ranked Pioneers — and tomorrow will travel to St. Paul, Minn., where they will face the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night in the finale of a three-game trip.
The B’s boast a 7-3-0 road record, easily the finest in the NHL. They’ve done it through consistent effort in all three zones by all four lines. Rask always has said a goalie’s stats are a direct reflection of the quality of play in front of him. The Vezina, which Rask won in 2013-14 when he was 36-15-6 with a 2.04 GAA, .930 SP and seven shutouts, perhaps should be a team award instead of individual.
And Rask has surprisingly good defense being played in front of him.
“A lot of it is because of how we’ve played,” Rask said of his gaudy stats: 101-0, 1.54 GAA, .945 SP and three “clean sheets” (yes, the NHL press release used that soccer term).
“We’ve played so solid for the most part. It obviously helps a lot for the goalie to be able to make those saves when you see the puck and we keep teams on the outside,” he said. “I think for the most part, the rebound control’s been good, and when there have been rebounds, the guys are clearing them out.”
Rask sees a team which, unlike the previous two seasons, is consistently buying into the effectiveness of tight checking, a high compete level and a dedication to strong team defense.
“That’s all the things we’ve been talking about pretty much every year,” Rask said. “Some years you execute those things better than others. I think this year we’re more focused on just showing up and working hard and not over-thinking anything.”
Indeed, what we haven’t felt so far is the sort of drama that seemed to precede so many games the previous two seasons. It seemed the team was in a constant state of crisis, with every two points so critically important. That was a tough way for a team, and a goalie, to function.
Amazing, isn’t it, how winning takes the pressure off ?
“It makes it all simpler, and it shows on the ice,” Rask said. “We just go out there and skate, battle and compete, and that just produces good hockey.
“It’s a mindset. Every year’s team has a different feel: Some years things click quicker than other years. This year, everyone has come together right from the start, everybody feels really comfortable with each other.”
Can it go on for 82 games?
“Yeah, why not? It’s all in your head,” Rask said. “As long as you go out there knowing what you’ve got to do, and you don’t put too much pressure on yourself or over-think it, it’s as simple as that.”
And having a goaltender who might again be the best in the NHL sure makes it all work.