Tuukka Rask Wins NHL's First Star Of The Week
BOSTON (CBS) -- Tuukka Rask's outstanding start to the 2016-17 season continued last week, as the Bruins goalie allowed just three goals in four games and posted a .970 save percentage. His performance earned him the NHL's First Star of the Week honors for the week ending Nov. 13.
The Bruins won all four of his starts to go 4-1 in the busy week. Rask is now 10-1 on the season with a 1.54 goals-against average, which is second in the NHL only to the Montreal Canadiens' Carey Price. His .945 save percentage is third in the league behind Price and the Minnesota Wild's Devin Dubnyk, and his 10 wins and three shutouts are tied for the league lead.
After shutting out the Buffalo Sabres at home and stopping 15-of-17 shots against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, Rask was especially impressive in the Bruins' back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday. He saved 31-of-32 shots against the Arizona Coyotes and turned away all 20 shots on goal against the Colorado Avalanche.
Rask's superb play has propelled the Bruins to a 10-6 record, second in the Atlantic Division and fourth-best in the Eastern Conference. Their 20 points are the fifth-most in the NHL entering Monday's action.
Rask has certainly made an early case to be a Vezina Trophy finalist and will find himself seriously contending for the award if he can keep up his current pace.