Tuukka Rask Kept The Bruins Alive With Two Huge Saves In The First Period [VIDEO]
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Bruins ended up flying by the Winnipeg Jets with four unanswered goals after going down 1-0, but had to lean heavily on goaltender Tuukka Rask as the Jets outshot them 35-25. Fortunately, Rask answered the bell with 34 saves. Watch two of the biggest ones in the video above.
Rask made two big saves in succession during a Winnipeg power play near the end of the first period to keep the game tied at one. First, he stopped Jets forward Mathieu Perreault on a one-timer in the slot, then kept his balance and positioning to save an immediate point-blank rebound by forward Adam Lowry.
They were just two of several tremendous saves throughout the game by Rask, who felt good about his performance after an uneven effort in the season opener against Columbus.
"I saw the puck well today. I felt like I was in a good position to make saves," said Rask. "That one double-save there, it's tough to control that first shot but he ended up hitting me with that rebound.
"Sometimes you save them, sometimes you don't. But today, fortunately, we escaped that first [period] with a tie and regrouped after that."
Head coach Claude Julien credited Rask as the key to keeping the Bruins alive as they played sloppy, undisciplined hockey for much of the first two periods.
"[Rask] held us in the game in the first half when we had to kill so many penalties and he was the reason we were still in the game, so he definitely deserves a lot of credit for this win," said Julien. "He allowed us to regain our momentum once we stopped taking penalties [later in the game]."
Rask certainly has his share of detractors among fans and media for his ability (or lack thereof) to bail out the Bruins when they make defensive mistakes. To "earn his money," so to speak. He sure did on Monday night in Winnipeg.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
