11/05/24
June 20, 2013
Blackhawks Win in OT to Even Stanley Cup: An 11-goal onslaught ended with a Brent Seabrook overtime goal that gave the Chicago Blackhawks a 6-5 road win over the Boston Bruins and evened up the Stanley Cup Finals at two games apiece. Boston fought back twice from two-goal deficits to tie, but never led. "We battled back many times, didn't make it easy on ourselves," said Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask.
Given I'm a homer and I had a lot to drink, I'll defer to you, but was Rask that bad? I feel like I called most of the Chicago goals before they happened; not because I'm a hockey savant, but because there was a guy wide open on the far side of the net as the Blackhawk with the puck came hurtling toward goal.
posted by yerfatma at 10:14 AM on June 20, 2013
was Rask that bad?
I think the point is that Rask was never that good to begin with. He is certainly a steady reliable NHL goalie, but the Bruin's team commitment to defense is the biggest reason for his success. Rarely do opposing teams get good opportunities close to the net. Rask stops the first shot and the Bruins clear the puck.
The MVP talk was because of the the low GAA in the playoffs. And because Boston plays so much of a team game that no other individual player stands out.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:25 AM on June 20, 2013
The goalie with the best save percentage in the playoffs and the third best save percentage in the regular season was never that good to begin with? I don't buy it. He has also faced 75 more shots in this postseason than Corey Crawford (in one less game). Last night was not his best game, but nobody is going to stop Patrick Kane when he has a wide open net on the far side.
I have not been impressed with Crawford this series. I think he has allowed several soft goals.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 10:33 AM on June 20, 2013
I think the point is that Rask was never that good to begin with.
The MVP talk was because of the the low GAA in the playoffs.
Seems like that happens a lot when a goalie has a sub-2.00 GAA while getting to the Finals.
And because Boston plays so much of a team game that no other individual player stands out
Not their Norris Trophy-winning defenseman or their Selke-winning forward? Or the guy leading the playoffs in points?
posted by yerfatma at 10:56 AM on June 20, 2013
You can make this argument about any goalie who played on a strong defensive team. For example:
I think the point is that Rask Brodeur was never that good to begin with. He is certainly a steady reliable NHL goalie, but the Bruin's Devil's team commitment to defense is the biggest reason for his success. Rarely do opposing teams get good opportunities close to the net. Rask Brodeur stops the first shot and the Bruins Devils clear the puck.
in other words poor argument is poor.
posted by Whizbang at 11:11 AM on June 20, 2013
Here I've been expecting Rask to be asked his views on the size of the Federal government and whether or not he'd go to the White House if invited.
Maybe we're spoiled by having seen a few goalies get hot and become unconscious throughout the playoffs in recent years. To the point that once a goalie gets hot, we expect him to stay hot every minute of every game.
I expect a good goalie to have a game now and then where he lets in more than 1 or 2. When Roy was with the Avs, he had some dreadful playoff games and bounced back from them.
The thing I like about last night is that these teams seem destined to carry the fight to the max whether the score is 1-1 or 5-5 after 3 periods. I thought Chicago was good to go when they were up 3-1, but they had miles to travel yet.
posted by beaverboard at 11:35 AM on June 20, 2013
was Rask that bad?
I think the point is that Rask was never that good to begin with.
Well, that wasn't my point. He's a good goalie, no doubt about that. (Imagine how much it burns this Leafs fan to say that. What's Raycroft up to nowadays...oh, he's playing in Italy, is he?)
I'm just saying after watching one of the most star-studded offenses (Penguins) go stone cold against him, and then going more than two full games without a goal against him, I could imagine it starting to get into the Blackhawks' heads that there might be a real problem here.
Putting six goals past him eliminates any mystique there might have been...
I think the point is that Rask Brodeur was never that good to begin with. He is certainly a steady reliable NHL goalie, but the Bruin's Devil's team commitment to defense is the biggest reason for his success. Rarely do opposing teams get good opportunities close to the net. Rask Brodeur stops the first shot and the Bruins Devils clear the puck.
I think four extra Vezina, 92 more playoff wins, and 600+ more regular season wins might suggest Brodeur's legacy is more his own than his team's. The number of players or coaches remaining on the Devils' roster/staff between Brodeur's Calder-winning 1994 season (or Stanley Cup winning 1995) season and last year's Stanley Cup final team:
One. Martin Brodeur.
I think it's definitely the player instead of the system, especially when all the players involved in the system (and the coaches that demand it) aren't the same.
posted by grum@work at 11:44 AM on June 20, 2013
Here I've been expecting Rask to be asked his views on the size of the Federal government and whether or not he'd go to the White House if invited.
Perhaps he learned the lesson "It's better to keep your mouth sut and let 'em think you're an idiot...."
Good god, what a fun hockey game! It was so good that ESPN almost considered interrupting their 24/7 analysis of the NBA to mention the final score at one point!
posted by tahoemoj at 11:52 AM on June 20, 2013
When Roy was with the Avs, he had some dreadful playoff games and bounced back from them.
Not always.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:04 PM on June 20, 2013
Gotta run those station promos!
posted by grum@work at 12:08 PM on June 20, 2013
My point is that Rask hasn't been out of his mind incredible in any game. He has not been the primary reason the Bruins have had or have not had success this year. Look at LA and Quick - last year he stole games for the Kings. This year he was average and the Kings are now playing golf.
Comparing Rask to Brodeur is hilarious.
posted by cixelsyd at 12:15 PM on June 20, 2013
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering how old Jaromir Jagr is, and how he handles playing with much younger players...
posted by grum@work at 12:17 PM on June 20, 2013
I am in no way saying Rask is the next Brodeur. Saying Rask is not a good goalie because Boston is good defensively is what I am taking issue with.
posted by Whizbang at 12:27 PM on June 20, 2013
My point is that Rask hasn't been out of his mind incredible in any game.
Is 53 saves on 54 shots not good enough for you?
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:43 PM on June 20, 2013
Not pointing fingers, but I feel some people decide a goalie is great or not based on the spectacular saves they make, like Gold Glove candidates in baseball. My take on both is if you're in position, you generally make fewer spectacular plays and more boring, routine plays...
posted by MeatSaber at 03:12 PM on June 20, 2013
One thing that stands out about Rask is his ability to anticipate where a shot will come from before the pass to the shooter arrives. If Rask can see the shot, he'll usually stop it. His problems last night were the result of Bruins' defense not being in position to limit second chances. Rask actually leaves a lot of rebounds, but another of his strengths is that he steers the rebounds into areas where his defense can at least contest them, if not gain outright control. With the defense not getting into position quickly enough - a function of Chicago's speed and perhaps a bit of a lack of effort on the part of Boston - Rask had nowhere to go with his rebounds.
Is Rask a superstar goaltender? Of course not. Is he a good goaltender on a hot streak? I would say yes, absolutely. The Conn Smythe is up for grabs, no matter who wins the cup.
posted by Howard_T at 06:16 PM on June 20, 2013
That should pierce the "Rask MVP" bubble, and any mystique he might have had about being "unbeatable".
Is it possible the NHL final round will be BETTER than the NBA final round?
This is shaping up to be one of the best months in North American sports in a while.