Silencing the critics

Through nine regular season games, the Boston Bruins hold a 5-4-0 record and face off against their Atlantic Division rivals the Tampa Bay Lightning (6-4-0 record) tonight. The Bruins are entering that bout with a two-game win streak which came ironically enough, with the return of a healthy Tuukka Rask.

With the netminder assuming his role, the Bruins defeated both the Detroit Red Wings (first shutout of the season for Rask), and the Florida Panthers. They scored a total of three goals in two games, and in the same period have only allowed one goal, thanks to Rask and his stellar performance.

All four games Rask has started saw him take the victory, giving him a 4-0-0 record. Add to that his 1.20 GAA (fourth per NHL.com) and .961 save percentage (third per NHL.com), and the Bruins have one of the finest goalies in the league. He matches up to his division rivals Carey Price (MTL, 6 GP, 6-0-0, 1.17 GAA, .964 SV%) and Jimmy Howard (DET, 4gp, 2-1-0, .86 GAA, .973 SV%).

If the Bruins can find a way to keep Tuukka Rask healthy all season, they stand a legitimate chance of making the playoffs and getting past the first round.