Goaltenders

Tuukka Rask (11-14-2   GAA: 2.67   SV%: 0.918  $1.25M):  After a coming out party in 2009-2010, Rask was slow out of the gate this past season, not picking up his first win until Nov 18th (his 5th try!).  I didn't think he played as poorly as his win-loss record indicated, but he definitely struggled.  There seemed to be a few bad breaks go against him along with the team not playing as well in front of him. 

There was a stretch in late February to early March where Timmy wasn't playing well. He looked a little slow and flat out tired.  Julien leaned on Tuukka to take a heavier work load for a bit and he responded by playing well during that stretch.  That allowed Timmy to get some rest and finish off the year strong. Although Tuukka would love to the be starter, he began to grasp the backup role.

From what you see on TV after the games, Tuukka seemed to have a great attitude about being the back-up to Thomas.  The two seemed to have a solid relationship and Tuukka was always there to greet him with a smile.  Tuukka is the future goaltender of this team, he just has one of the hottest goaltenders in the league playing in front of him right now.  Give it another year or two and we'll be able to break out our Tuukka Toga's!

We need Tuukka to get off to a better start this year.  Thomas isn't getting any younger and he'll need his rest during the season.  Tuukka needs to be able to step in and provide solid relief in games to show us he's ready to take over.  Look for Chiarelli to lock Tuukka up for a couple more years as he's a restricted free agent after the season.


Tim Thomas (35-11-9   GAA: 2.00   SV%: 0.938  $5.0M):   Thomas had a pretty disappointing season.  It looked like he was going to be the back up after Tuukka took over the starting spot in 2009-2010.  Let's talk straight here, he was an awful back up.  The back up is suppose to periodically spell the starter, not completely take over.  How many back ups in the league break the record for save percentage in a season?  None.  How many back ups win the Vezina Trophy (best goaltender during the regular season) and Conn Smythe (MVP of the playoffs)?  None.

Alright, enough goofing.  At the age of 36 (at the beginning of the year), people thought Thomas was done after the season he had in 2009-2010.  Apparently he just needed a little hip surgery and BOOM, even better than new.  The season he had was downright filthy.  Then when you thought it couldn't get any better, it did.  After the first two playoff games, Thomas was a brick wall.  Without Thomas, the B's probably don't even win the division let alone the Stanley Cup.  Can't you just hear Jack now, "AAAHH SUPERMAN!", every time he made save?!

A lot of people point to the save against the Lightning as the save of the year.  I can be swayed, but I answer your save with another.  While that save was absolutely amazing, and one hell of a Reebok commercial, the save of the year to me literally saved their season.  Game 5 versus the Canadiens in 2OT. No, losing this game doesn't end their season, but Montreal is a very very tough place to play.  If that goes in, the season is likely over and Horton stops smiling...yeah, that's pretty sad.

Now it's nearly impossible for T-squared to have a better season.  He'd have to break his own record, save a baby from a burning building, beat Chara in an thumb war and win all those shiny trophies again.  Although it's possible, I'd say it's highly unlikely.  I mean, Chara's thumbs are HUGE.  Give me 90% of what you did last year and I'll be happy.

Thomas is another guy that won't get complacent just because they won the Cup.  He's always had the "me against the world" mentality and I don't expect anything different.  You just have to wonder when will his age start to catch up to him.  Luckily if it does, we do have one of the best young goalies as a back up.