Ending the first half of the season on a four game win streak, hopefully the Bruins can continue to win when the Olympic hockey break is over on March 3rd against the Habs. Last years Vezina Trophy winner, Tim Thomas hasn’t performed at the level we hoped he would, but our other man in the crease, Tuukka Rask has come on strong this season and the Bruins have been riding the hot goalie over the past few weeks. Rask has played all four of the last won games leading up to the break and will most likely stay between the pipes when we start the second half of the season.
The Bruins and I aren’t the only ones hopping on the Tuukka Rask bandwagon. As much love as I have for Tim Thomas, James Murphy agrees on Rask:
Goaltender Tuukka Rask has been one of the main reasons for the Bruins’ recent resurgence. Rask started the last six games and won all four leading into the break. He entered the Olympic hiatus 14-7-4 with a 2.08 goals-against average and .928 save percentage after turning aside 188 of the 200 he faced in the last six games. He seems to have taken over the No. 1 goalie spot, and the Bruins may look to ride him as far as he’ll take them in the final 22 games.
Rask has been exceptional. Thomas on the other hand has struggled, but a break could be enough to help him prepare for his next start if Tuukka begins to decline in play. Imagine that. Our back up goaltender is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. That says a lot for Rask getting the starts this time around.
Thanks to misconmike for the picture of the Boston Bruins 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park.
