Have the Blue Jackets really ‘dented’ Tuukka Rask going into do-or-die Game 6? taken at BSJ Headquarters (2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs)

Adam Richins for BSJ

2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Have the Blue Jackets really ‘dented’ Tuukka Rask going into do-or-die Game 6?

By Conor Ryan

May 6, 2019 • 5:19 pm

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John Tortorella is not one to shy away from bold proclamations.

The Blue Jackets are just one loss away from from an end to their 2018-19 campaign — and facing some dire consequences after mortgaging the future at the trade deadline in pursuit of one major Cup run.

But Columbus’ outspoken bench boss is feeling pretty positive — yes, positive — going into a do-or-die Game 6 against the Bruins Monday night.

Already guaranteeing that the Blue Jackets will be back in Boston for a decisive Game 7 on Wednesday, Tortorella was at it again Monday morning when discussing whatever momentum that Columbus was able to draw out of a 4-3 loss in Game 5.

“The biggest thing is I think we put a dent in (Tuukka) Rask, coming into Game 6 here,” Tortorella said. “That’s so important for offensive people.”

You could see his reasoning if you make a quick glance over at the box score — as Rask was looking awfully impervious going into the closing minutes of the third period.

Before a shot from Seth Jones deflected off of Matt Grzelcyk’s stick and tucked itself past Rask at 10:33 in the third period, Rask was in the midst of a shutout streak that stretched for 101:46 of ice time. Prior to that, the last goal surrendered by Rask was on that goal by Artemi Panarin in Game 4, in which the puck was somehow still live despite getting caught in the netting above the B’s goal.

And yes, while the Blue Jackets finally managed to break through against Rask in Game 5 with three goals in four shots — all over the span of 3:27 of game action — the Bruins, unsurprisingly, didn't exactly agree with Tortorella’s assessment.



“I don’t have anything to say about (Tortorella’s) comment. … Tuukka has been our best player the whole series.” Charlie McAvoy said. “He’s been awesome, he’s in a zone right now. We’ve just got to follow his lead and do our best job in front of him. We know that he’s bringing it every night.”

Even with those three goals relinquished in the final stanza, Rask still stood on his head for about 56 minutes of ice time on Saturday — headlined by a a pair of fantastic stops against Cam Atkinson and Nick Foligno in the second period before denying Atkinson once again in the closing seconds of regulation.




For all of the hemming and hawing centered on Rask and his play in the postseason, the B’s goalie has stood tall so far this spring, leading all NHL netminders in the playoffs with a .932 save percentage in 741:19 of TOI — also tops among goalies. While opponents so far in this postseason have an expected goals rate of 31.88 against the Bruins, Rask has shut down a number of high-danger bids, relinquishing just 26 goals against the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets over 12 games.




“
No, I don't think he's been dented,” Bruce Cassidy said of Rask. “Got beat three times the other night. Post got dented late by
(Matt) Duchene
, a break went our way. He made a big stop on Atkinson, that's what I remember about the last 10 minutes for the most part. We had our share of offense as well.


“The game got away from us a little bit from how we want to play, but they made some good plays. They've got good players, it's going to happen. You've got to play through it and I thought we did a good job responding after they got the two goals and we were able to win the game because of that."


Throughout this Bruins/Jackets series, the game within the game has been Rask against
Sergei Bobrovsky
— with the Russian netminder often going toe to toe with Rask down the other end of the sheet.


Yet, for all of the talk of Rask being “dented,” perhaps the Blue Jackets should be more focused on what their own netminder will be able to withstand in an elimination game.


While Rask once again leads all playoff goalies with 3.177 goals saved above average, Bobrovsky ranks sixth with a GSAA of 1.324. Still a good total, but not up to par with the effort that Rask has put forward.


won't 
can't 


“There’s obviously some breakdowns by us as players," Jake DeBrusk said of the third period of Game 5. "There were pretty Grade-A chances. The first one went off our defenseman and in the net and kind of flukey play and then things happen from there. That’s the game of hockey and I think if you look throughout the series or throughout the playoffs, Tuukka has been the biggest reason why we’ve had success."


Stats and charts via Natural Stat Trick and Sean Tierney. 

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