At times, it appeared as though Anton Khudobin was in net for the Boston Bruins Tuesday night at TD Garden. His style could best be described as erratic, or overly active, during the course of a game, but it's been working for him this season.
Tuukka Rask is the complete opposite. The No. 1 netminder for the Bruins is always calm, almost boring to a point where it appears he's not interested, which couldn't be further from the truth. When he's focused and engaged, he's making the hard shots look easy to stop.
Well, that wasn't the case during Boston's 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils.
Rask was as active as he's been in a long time. Part of that was because the Devils came out flying and played probably their best period of the season and registered 20 shots on net. It was the most Boston allowed in any period this season and Rask stopped every one.
“Part of that is the opposition. Are they getting to the net? Is there a mad scramble? Are they trying to bump him? Are they trying to take away his eyes? You’re fighting to find pucks,” said Bruce Cassidy. “We want Tuukka to compete in there and find pucks. He did a terrific job with it and we’re trying to get him out of harm’s way, because there was a lot that seemed to hang around the slot."
Added Cassidy, “Yeah, he was more active, but in a good way."
TUUUUUUUUUUUKKS! Tuukka Rask fights off three or four Devils attempts from the slot to keep the game scoreless! pic.twitter.com/tadPb2KInN
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) January 24, 2018
Tuukka Rask is the seventh goaltender in @NHLBruins history to record at least one point in 17+ consecutive decisions. #NHLStats #NJDvsBOS pic.twitter.com/EZPiCyxDsg
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 24, 2018