Fernandez's play makes both goalies keepers
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WILMINGTON - In the Bruins' plan for 2008-09, one likely scenario was to have Manny Fernandez reclaim his game, then swap the free agent-to-be before the trade deadline, replacing the veteran with rookie Tuukka Rask to back up Tim Thomas.
But with the Bruins merrily steamrolling opponents and both goalies combining to form the stoutest puck-stopping tandem in the league, general manager Peter Chiarelli may find that trading Fernandez brings more harm than benefit.
The most recent evidence is Thursday's 8-5 win over Toronto in which Fernandez replaced Thomas to start the third period. The Bruins, up, 6-5, entering the final frame, ripped two goals past goalie Vesa Toskala for what appeared to be a relatively breezy win. But without Fernandez's calming presence - two point-blank saves at the beginning of the period - the Bruins might have dropped their second match of December instead of extending their home winning streak to 12 straight.
"Bringing Manny in was bringing attention to the rest of the team to wake up and sharpen up," said coach Claude Julien. "Manny was obviously in a groove in the third period and made some good key saves for us. That's part of the process you go through during the season. You'll probably see Timmy come in and help Manny out at some point this season as well."
Last season, Montreal GM Bob Gainey turned heads when he dealt veteran Cristobal Huet to Washington at the trade deadline, giving the starting job to rookie Carey Price. The hotshot dazzled at times and helped the Canadiens advance past the Bruins in the first round of the playoffs. But Price and the Habs struggled against the Flyers and were upset in the second round.
The Bruins could use some reinforcement on the back end. The absences of Andrew Ference and Aaron Ward, both top-four defensemen, have contributed to Boston's inconsistent defensive play recently. But Thomas (13-3-3, 2.15 goals-against average, .932 save percentage) and Fernandez (9-2-1, 2.02 GAA, .927 save percentage) have been so stingy it might be too risky to alter the chemistry and make one goalie the clear-cut No. 1 by trading the other.
But perhaps the most significant reason for both goalies' success has been the play in front of them. On Thursday, the Bruins' usually airtight defense (only 2.19 goals allowed per game, fewest in the NHL) made Thomas look shakier than he was.
"A lot of it was a lot of mental mistakes we made," Julien said after yesterday's uptempo practice at Ristuccia Arena. "We know we can score goals now. We've proven that defensively we can be a good team. But we can only do that if we make good decisions. Some of the goals against [Thursday] were three guys getting caught below the goal line, a bad line change - all things that, if you're mentally sharp, you can certainly rectify. Again, what we're being challenged with is staying sharp for 60 minutes."
"The doctors are looking at the injury," Julien said. "There's swelling, obviously, and that much I know. But they're not able to tell exactly what it is, whether it's long term or short term. With a little bit of swelling, it's a little tougher to look at."
Sturm became the third Bruin to suffer an injury in his first game back this season. Chuck Kobasew, who missed the end of the 2007-08 regular season and the postseason with a fractured tibia, went down with a fractured ankle in this year's season opener against Colorado. Ward sat out four games with an ankle injury, then suffered a setback in his first game back Dec. 12.
P.J. Axelsson should move to the second line today alongside Kobasew and Patrice Bergeron. Vladimir Sobotka would then take Axelsson's spot on the fourth line.
