People often use Tuukka Rask’s performances in big games as ammunition for why they don’t trust him. Or for why they don’t think he’s a good enough goalie to win a Stanley Cup. Or why Jeremy Swayman should have been the Bruins starter in Game 1.
Rask’s losing efforts in both Game 6 of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final and Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final are the first two games that are mentioned in anti-Rask conversations.
But what people either intentionally fail to mention, or choose to ignore is the fact that Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand combined for zero points in those two losses that ended the Bruins’ chances at another Stanley Cup title.
Instances where three of your top players failed to rise to the occasion.
Whether you’re leading a series 3-0, or tied 3-3, getting that fourth and final win is always the hardest. It’s then, you need your best players to be just that: at their best.
With the Bruins looking for that difficult fourth win Sunday night in Washington, the Bruins top players certainly brought their best, leading the team to a 3-1 Game 5 victory and a 4-1 series win.
Patrice Bergeron: 2 goals, nine shot attempts David Pastrnak: 1 goal, 1 assist, six shot attempts Tuukka Rask: 40 saves on 41 shots
“Let’s face it, our top guys came through tonight,… said head coach Bruce Cassidy, “and our soldiers were good.…
After a bit of a slow start to the series, David Pastrnak has found life over the last three games and clearly, his confidence is back.
His second period goal that got the Bruins on the board and opened the scoring was a thing of beauty and the type of goal that in Game 1 and 2, may not have went in for Pastrnak.
“When you see a goal like that, especially against a team that plays a man-to-man, the guys recognize from playing the same guys after a while that there’s some opportunity to beat a guy one-on-one, you might get a look and he did,… Cassidy said. “David’s a big part of our team, he’s been scoring goals around here for a long time.…
The lone goal the Capitals scored in Game 5 came with the Bergeron line on the ice. Usually when that happens, you’ll see the Bergeron line get the goal back shortly thereafter.
To no surprise, they did just that as Bergeron put the icing on the cake with just under eight minutes left in regulation
“Bergy’s never happy when a puck goes in the net and he’s on the ice and usually it’s because he was doing the right thing,… said Cassidy. “Certainly a guy that’s led this team for a lot of years, and this is his first with a “C… on it. He wants to sort of put his signature on this club, regular season and now playoffs.…
While Bergeron and Pastrnak were leading the charge up front, Rask once again did his job in net, closing the book on what was one of the best series Rask has played as a Bruin, finishing the series with a .941 save percentage and a 1.81 goals-against average.
“He seemed very composed in there, very sure of himself. It makes it easier for I think everybody, when you see your goalie under control and it looks like they’re not going to get a pea by him for the most part,… Cassidy said.
“He’s unbelievable, soon as that second goal that was disallowed went in I knew it was going to be interference because he’s never out of position, he’s been standing on his head this series and we’re lucky to have him behind us,… said Pastrnak.
With his performance in Game 5, Rask’s .927 all-time save percentage among goalies with at least 75 games played ranks first in NHL history.
Tuukka Rask
— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) May 24, 2021
Best save% in the playoffs in NHL history- (min 75 games played)
1. Tuukka Rask - .927
numero uno