This is Tuukka Rask's team now.
When Tim Thomas made the decision that hockey wasn't for him anymore, at least not for a year, the Bruins became Rask's team.
It's not like it hasn't been his before, though. Rask, who has spent much of his career in Thomas' shadow, was once the No. 1 when injury and inconsistency banished Thomas to the bench.
Rask made 39 starts during the 2009-10 regular season, carrying the team into the playoffs. In those regular season contests he went 22-12 with a 1.97 goals against average and a .931 save percentage. Those are some pretty darn good numbers, of course, and it was a glimpse into what Rask could really be, if given the chance.
He was exposed some once the B's reached the playoffs, but not only did Rask get some valuable experience that season, he also proved he could handle the job.
Now, after two more years of sitting behind Thomas, Rask finds the job his to lose. It's not like he's going to have to worry about looking over his back at Thomas, as the two-time Vezina winner is nothing more than a TD Garden ghost at this point.
That being said, though, Rask still has some pretty big skates to fill. Thomas looked mortal at times last season, a far cry from the historic 2010-11 season he posted, but he was still very, very good. In 58 games, Thomas went 35-19 with a 2.4 GAA and a .920 save percentage, adding five shutouts for good measure.
The Bruins skated to a Northeast Division title with Thomas shouldering most of the load in net. The 38-year-old couldn't replicate his magical playoffs run last year, though, and the Bruins were shocked in the first round by Washington.
Not long after, Thomas was gone, and now the younger Rask is tasked with leading the Black and Gold on another Stanley Cup run.
Will Tuukka Rask be an upgrade in goal over Tim Thomas this season?
