There seems to be a lot of talk about how the Bruins are handling Tuukka’s playing time this year, so I thought it would be interesting to do a bit of research and get some facts on how all 30 NHL teams handle their business. Here’s the deal: 1. Tim Thomas has 27 starts. Tuukka Rask has 10. The Bruins are employing roughly a 75/25 playing ratio, which projects to 60 starts for Thomas and 20 for Rask. 2. Of the 30 NHL teams, all but 8 teams play the exact same 75/25 primary versus backup ratio as the Bruins. Additionally, there are (17) backup goalies that have played FEWER games than Rask, putting him almost in the exact middle of games started at the position. 3. The exceptions to the 75/25 approach are Atlanta, Columbus, Chicago, Colorado, NY Islanders, San Jose, Tampa Bay, and Toronto. Of these (8) teams, injuries to the main keeper have forced the backups to start more games than desired in Atlanta (Mason), Colorado (Anderson), NY Islanders (DiPietro), Tampa (Smith), and Toronto (Giguere). In other words, only Columbus and San Jose have made the active decision to split starts between goalies more evenly than the Bruins and the rest of the league. Colorado’s choice has been because both goalies have been mediocre and they are trying to figure it out (both sport GAA over 3.0 and SV% under .900). San Jose’s tandem are both much better, and the way the organization is handling the Neimi/Nittymaki situation is at odds with the rest of the league and causing a big debate among fans. 3. What does this mean? It means that 28 of the world’s best hockey coaches, 28 x 3 Assistant Coaches, 28 goaltending coaches, 28 General Managers and 28 Team Presidents all believe that their team’s best chance to win at the NHL level is to is to have a starting goalie play 75% of the games and back-up 25% regardless of the talent of the backup-in-waiting. They believe this for many reasons, but mostly because goalie experts will say that rhythm and repetition are key to being on top of the game. An even split does not help either goalie find their absolute best, while the 75/25 split at least helps your top goalie and that‘s the best path towards more wins. 4. But what about last year? The starts last year show a more equal role between Thomas and Rask, but as fans we all know these are skewed over the season and it was Rask who played the 75% start rate to Thomas’ 25% the second half of the season. In the end, the Bruins did last year and are doing this year EXACTLY what 28 other teams in the league do with the 75/25 split. 5. I don’t know about you, but I’m fairly certain I do not have as much hockey knowledge as the aforementioned 196 NHL professionals who believe it’s best to have the 75/25 split, including the Bruins staff. If that’s the case, I am also fairly certain that if I had a choice to pick a guy who leads the league in GAA, Save % and shutouts, I’d make him my starter. So why is everyone complaining about Tuukka not getting time, when he's getting exactly the amount any other coach/GM/staff would giver him - especially when your starter is playing the best in the league? Any plan to try to start Tuukka more not only goes against the professional opinion of nearly every NHL guy there is, but it would simultaneously take your best player off the ice. Rask will get his 20 starts. I agree he could be on the top side of the backups and maybe get 25 on the season, but preferably against non-conference teams considering how he's playing (like the upcoming MIN game). He’ll also get the starting job next year or the year after, and we should all expect he gets 75% of those starts when it's his job. It’s on his shoulders to accept the conventional wisdom and do the best he can with it, which wasn't the case with his erratic play last vs. Buffalo. The rest of us? Maybe we should admit that there are hundreds of professional out there who might know a smidge more about hockey than we do. I truly welcome your thoughts on all this…but have a “take” that goes beyond coach-bashing. Let’s have a real discussion for once…and GO BRUINS!!!!
Posted by asmaha

With Rask playing the way he is, wouldn't it make more sense to play him vs. a non-conference team like upcoming MIN, or have him get some legwork done when they have 8 games in two weeks mid-January? As for the quality of Rask as a backup, agreed that he's better than most if not all other backups. If all things were "normal", I'd say more of a time share would be in order. However, that doesn't account for the facts that: a) The best hockey minds still say that an equal share does not benefit either goalie, and you get 80% of their talent that way, and b) The other teams don't have Thomas. The point about Miller is a valid one, but my feeling is Julien is simply riding the hot hand. Thomas has been the best in the league....and I think any coach would keep playing him regardless of who the backup is.  Rask will get reps...he really will. There is an ebb and flow to the season, and there will be stretches where Thomas gets his rest, then they'll gear up for the playoffs. In the meantime, I just think the fans are giving Julien a tough time when he's doing exactly what any other coach would do in his situation (well, other than the doofuses in San Jose and Colorado).
Posted by asmaha

dezaruchi, clearly you are a big fan of Tuuka, and I don't dissuade you from being a fan of his since he did a nice job overall last year. But you can't possibly tell me that Tuuka is even a shadow of what we all saw last year. This guy lacks confidence, looks bewildered out there, and is an epitome of shaky. He is not making big saves, let alone some of the easy ones. He is misplaying the puck, trying to poke check v. all-stars and losing, and then fishing for pucks on the line, not knowing where he is in the crease. It's sad. I'm sorry, Tuuka needs to go back to the minors, not trotted out there to put the B's in a bad position.
Posted by dannycater