How Tuukka Rask compares to other elite NHL goaltenders
When the Baltimore Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson with their first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, it put to bed the long-running argument: Is Joe Flacco an elite quarterback? Now, the nation breathlessly turns to another favorite discussion: Is Tuukka Rask a truly elite, franchise-cornerstone goaltender?
The simple answer, based on one of the most fundamental stats goalies can be judged by, is yes. Rask holds the second-best all-time save percentage in NHL history, trailing Dominik Hasek by just .0002 percent. The gap between the pair widens in the Stanley Cup category. Hasek won two, and while Rask’s name is on the Bruins’ 2011 trophy, he has yet to grab hold of one as a starting goaltender.
This season, the Bruins backstop was benched early in the season when head coach Bruce Cassidy inserted backup Anton Khudobin into the starting lineup. Rask responded well to the decision, returning to string together four wins in a row and post a 9-0-1 record in the month of December. He finished the regular season with strong numbers (.917 SV%, 2.36 GAA) and led Boston into the second-round of the playoffs, where the Bruins fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.
Among the goaltenders who played their way into the second round this year, Rask finished last in save percentage (.903) and second-to-last in goals against average (2.88). The numbers would be largely irrelevant if the Bruins were still in contention, of course, but because Boston already gathered their bags and left TD Garden for the summer, the statistical analysis begins.
Here’s a look at how Rask’s performance this year compares to the best at the position and whether his play has slipped in recent years:
Tuukka vs. the Vezina Finalists
Rask will not win his second Vezina Trophy, awarded to the best goalie in the league, this year. The finalist for the 2018 award were announced in April: Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators, Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets, and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Rask’s regular season numbers are up there with the elite goaltenders. His stats see a drop off in the playoffs, but so do Rinne’s. On the other hand, Hellebuyck and Vasilevskiy raised their game even higher in the postseason, which has a lot to do with why the Jets and Lightning are still in the running for the Stanley Cup.
Save percentage
Rask: .917 (regular season), .903 (playoffs)
Rinne: .927 (regular season), .907 (playoffs)
Hellebuyck: .924 (regular season), .922 (playoffs)
Vasilevskiy: .920 (regular season), .927 (playoffs)
Goals against average
Rask: 2.36 (regular season), 2.88 (playoffs)
Rinne: 2.31 (regular season), 2.94 (playoffs)
Hellebuyck: 2.36 (regular season), 2.36 (playoffs)
Vasilevskiy: 2.62 (regular season), 2.20 (playoffs)
Tuukka vs. Peak Tuukka
In the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, Rask led the Bruins to a sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Stanley Cup Finals. During the Pittsburgh series, he stopped 134 of the 136 shots he faced over the four games. Rask followed that playoff performance (.940 SV%, 1.88 GAA) with a 2013-14 campaign in which he went 36-15-6 on his way to the Vezina Trophy.
During that run, the then 26-year-old was playing behind Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg as they roved within Claude Julien’s defensive system. Over the past three years, the roster in front of Rask has seen significant turnover, but the Bruins netminder kept his place among the league’s best. Fifteen goalies have played 150 or more games in the past three seasons. Of that group, Tuukka Rask ranks 8th in save percentage, 6th in goals allowed average, and 5th in wins.
Save percentage
2013-14: .930
2015-18: .916
Goals against average
2013-14: 2.04
2015-18: 2.39
What does Rask have to say about the discussion?
No matter what’s said by the fans, his former teammates, or radio hosts, Rask isn’t paying attention.
“I don’t really know what’s being said and whatnot because I don’t follow it. It’s probably better off that way, but you know, it doesn’t bother me,” Rask said during the team’s break-up day, per CBS Boston.
The Bruins goaltender told reporters, “Sure, Boston fans are passionate — every sport. You know, I’m a fan of sports. I criticize players if I see that they suck, so it’s no different.”
“It’s part of the job.”
