Don Sweeney reacts to Tuukka Rask’s decision to opt-out of the remained of the Stanley Cup playoffs
If the Bruins are going to make a second straight run to the Stanley Cup Final, they'll have to do it without their Vezina Trophy-nominated goaltender.
Two games into the B's first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Tuukka Rask announced he was opting out of the rest of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, stating that "there are things more important than hockey in my life, and that is being with my family."
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Rask's opt-out deprives the Bruins of a netminder with a stellar postseason record. Rask's 2.20 GAA in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the eighth-best among all goalies with at least 55 games played, and his .9259 save percentage ranks ninth all-time.
Not counting this year's round-robin games, Rask has started each of the Bruins' last 78 playoff games since 2013. Anton Khudobin was the only other B's goalie to see any postseason action since then, and that was a 27-minute stint in relief of Rask during the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
So with Rask out of the picture, what are the Bruins left with in net? It obviously starts with Jaroslav Halak, who combined with Rask to win the Jennings Trophy this season, but here's what's left on the team's depth chart:
JAROSLAV HALAK
Boston Bruins
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Age: 35
Career Playoff Stats: 13-16 record, 2.45 GAA, .922 save percentage, 0 shutouts in 31 games
Last Postseason Appearance: 2015 with the New York Islanders (3-4 record, 2.30 GAA, .926 save percentage)
2019-20 Stats: 18-6-6 record, .239 GAA, .919 save percentage, 3 shutouts in 31 games played
DAN VLADAR
Age: 22
Drafted: 3rd round of 2015 NHL Draft (75th overall pick)
NHL Experience: None
2019-20 Stats: 14-7-1 record, 1.79 GAA, .936 save percentage, 3 shutouts in 25 games with Providence Bruins (Led AHL in both GAA and save percentage)
MAXIME LAGACÉ
Age: 27
Drafted: Undrafted
NHL Experience: 17 games with Vegas Golden Knights from 2017-19; 6-8-1 record, 3.92 GAA, .868 save percentage
2019-20 Stats: 22-7-3 record, 2.37 GAA, .919 save percentage, 5 shutouts in 33 games with Providence Bruins
