Rumor has it that Claude Julien is starting Tuukka Rask tonight after yanking him after one period against Buffalo.
We said it the other day and we’ll say it again, pulling Tuukka after one period of sloppy play was retarded. Rask let in one softie; the rest can be written off to rust and sloppy play in front of him.
Some quotes from Julien on Tuukka:
“Yesterday we had to settle the game down and we looked a little rattled. With Tim going in we thought it would settle things down a little. [Rask] was fighting the puck a little.”
Clearly putting a tired Timmy in didn’t do anything. Would’ve been better to see if Rask settled down in the second. He hadn’t worked in over two weeks for shit’s sake.
”I’d say it’s more confidence now…head stuff,” said Julien, asked if he felt Rask’s struggles were rooted in mechanics or confidence. ”Mechanically, he’s a sound goaltender…he needs to build his confidence back up.”
Which would be a huge help if he got, y’know, some reps in beyond one period.
“We need him. We can’t have just one goalie.’’
Ugh… sorry, Claude, but that’s exactly what you’ve been doing since mid-December.
This isn’t to sound like we’re anti-Thomas. We love Timmy the Tank, but he admitted feeling fatigued after the Thrasher’s game. And Rask can’t grow as a goalie and competitor if he a) doesn’t get his reps in in-action and b) when he does he gets pulled. Julien showed 0 confidence in Rask the other day and it’s unwarranted since Rask’s Save% would be among the best in the league if he had enough starts.
Our prediction: Tuukka Rask pulls Claude Julien after the first.
After the jump… Seguin and Thornton line combo = Powderkeg of Goals… projected roster… game day links… game day video…
Seguin and Thornton team up — Look out NHL
For the past two games Tyler Seguin has been centering the fourth line with Mr. Shawn Thornton. Since then, Seguin has blown up with a goal and an assist. Think it’s a coincidence?
Wrong.
We’ve been dreaming of a Seguin-Thornton 1-2 punch since pre-season. It’s the ultimate in juxtaposition in hockey. Finese scorer and hardhat fisticuff extraordinare.
They’re the Good Cop/Bad Cop of Bruins hockey. Love it.
He’s the second coming of Orr
He’ll bash your face in
Together they solve crime.
Projected Roster:
Milan Lucic-Marc Savard-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Mark Recchi
Blake Wheeler-David Krejci-Michael Ryder
Danny Paille-Tyler Seguin-Shawn Thornton
Zdeno Chara-Johnny Boychuk
Dennis Seidenberg-Steven Kampfer
Andrew Ference-Adam McQuaid
Tuukka Rask
Tim Thomas
Game Day Links:
- January could be Seguin’s month. Fuck yea.
- Horton and Kessel are hoping to go streaking… in a good way???
- Dan Shaughnessy is retarded.
- DJ Bean: Bruins sent the wrong message to Rask against Buffalo
- Angry Bruins Fan Game Day Brew.
Game Day Video:
In honor of the US-Canada tilt
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhnUgAaea4M&w=480&h=385]
Time to Go!
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