BOSTON — Tuukka Rask is one of the three best goaltenders in the NHL, but he hasn’t consistently played at a high level against the rival Montreal Canadiens.
The Bruins’ No. 1 netminder owns a 3-13-3 record with a .905 save percentage and a 2.73 GAA in 20 career games played against the Habs. Making the challenge of beating the Canadiens even more difficult is the presence of Carey Price, the league’s best goaltender and reigning Hart and Vezina trophy winner.
Not that Rask needs extra motivation to play well in or be emotionally ready for a Bruins-Canadiens game, but seeing Price at the other end of the ice and knowing he’s likely to give up very few — if any — goals, can be a real motivating factor for an opposing goalie.
“(Price has) played great hockey throughout his career,” Rask said after Saturday’s morning skate. “We’ve always had tough times scoring on him. He’s won pretty much every single trophy in the league, so extra credit to him. But it’s always tough to play against him because he doesn’t let in too many goals. Extra motivation for sure.”
Price is 21-8-3 with a .923 save percentage and a 2.38 GAA in his career against the Bruins, and he went 4-0 with a .950 save percentage and a 1.50 GAA versus Boston last season. Price helped the Canadiens begin the regular season with a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. His 36 saves made up for the Canadiens’ inability to consistently possess the puck and, as a result, get out-shot by an inferior Leafs team.
The Bruins have controlled the puck possession battle in nearly all of their matchups with the Canadiens over the last two years, but despite creating enough scoring chances, the amount of goals scored isn’t very high. This lack of scoring has put a little extra pressure on Rask to be stellar each time out against the Habs.
It also doesn’t help that Boston’s blue line lacks NHL experience and the ideal amount of defensive depth with veteran defensemen Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg out of the lineup with injuries. However, Rask doesn’t feel any added responsibility on his shoulders given the current state of the defensive corps.
“Not really. I just think we’re trying to play the game as a team,” Rask said. “I try to eliminate some mistakes and try to help out each other. Obviously, the goalie, doesn’t matter what the situation is, he always plays a big part in the team. I’m just trying to be there for our guys and help us win.”
For the Bruins to earn their first win over the Canadiens at TD Garden since 2011-12, they not only need Rask to play at a high level, they also must avoid putting him in difficult situations with the type of turnovers and breakdowns in defensive zone coverage seen in Thursday’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
