Before Game 2 I had the chance to talk briefly with Tuukka Rask and Jordan Binnington. Despite the final score and the large shot differential, both goalies played well. Of special note…
Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (18 saves) extended his winning streak to eight games (1.38 GAA, .956 SV%, 2 SO), matching the longest such run by any goaltender over the last 10 years (Jonathan Quick in 2012 w/ LAK and Dwayne Roloson in 2011 w/ TBL). It also is the second-longest such run by a Bruins goaltender behind only Gerry Cheevers’ 10 straight playoff victories in 1970 (including four vs. STL).
Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington made 34 saves – including 16 in the second period – to match the second-highest single-game total by a rookie in the Final over the past 31 years. He equaled Cam Ward (34 saves in Game 1 of 2006 SCF) and fell three short of tying Matt Murray (37 saves in Game 2 of 2017 SCF).
Here are a few quick hits from the goalies and their coaches…
Q. On the importance of the defensemen contributing offensively…
TUUKKA RASK: Yeah, well I think that just tells a lot about our team. We play for each other, everybody’s willing to do the dirty work and willing to do the offense as well. So, not surprising, but happy to see guys get rewarded, you know, they’re – we’ve got a lot of D men who can skate, who can join the rush, and today it showed.
Q. On the Bruins limiting pucks on net in the second and third periods…
TUUKKA RASK: Yeah, well I thought we had a great second period after that cough up in the first. I mean, only thing I can do is to just tell myself to stay focused and try to make that next save and give us a chance, keep us in the game. Luckily, I didn’t really have to do anything. We pushed back and got some goals out of that, so just pretty much a spectator after that.Well I think typically for most of the year we played good team defense so it starts with that, that’s our identity.
BRUCE CASSIDY: I thought we broke pucks out better as the game went on. They’re a forecheck team, that’s how they establish territory and it’s part of their offense and certainly, the second goal was a product of that. And the first one that’s right, they threw it behind Zee [Zdeno Chara] so both of their goals were behind us so we started managing it better and breaking out, I think that limits their opportunities. I don’t know them as well but watching them, they’re not a huge line rush team because they are forecheck dominant. We stayed out of the box, I think that helps limit the chance attempts. They’re spending energy killing penalties so I think that takes away from some of their offense. And I think we just know how to check. I think we’ve done it to Carolina, Toronto, Columbus, we know how to play winning hockey when we need to and limit the other team’s chances and that’s a credit to the veteran guys in the room.
Q. On being outshot after the first by a large margin, how did it affect your confidence?
JORDAN BINNINGTON: “You learn that confidence comes from preparation, and you’ve got to be prepared for anything that’s thrown at you, it’s kind of the way I look at my life now and hockey specifically. So I think that’s an important way to look at it. … You surround yourself with the right people and believe in yourself and have faith that things will come around and come your way. So just prepare for the moment or the opportunity that comes at you.”
CRAIG BERUBE: Well he was fine. He made a lot of great saves. They had a lot of shots, a lot of good opportunities. Like I said, we turned too many pucks over. We didn’t move the puck very well, you know. I thought he was fine.
Q. On what Torey Krug’s big hit can do for the bench…
TUUKKA RASK: Well, he’s the type of guy that never gives up. I saw him battle in front of the net and I just wanted to tell him to get out of there during the rush, you know, but it’s – you’re playing in the Finals so there’s going to be battles all over the ice – and I think he had no helmet on so he wanted to make sure he made the highlights to make that hit. I mean, like I said, he’s a guy that never gives up and he battles hard.
Q. After that hit Krug skated towards you, giving you a look. Did he say anything?
JORDAN BINNINGTON: “It was more a stare, his pupils were pretty big. I don’t know if he was on something, but he was pretty fired up. It was a big hit, big play and the rink was excited.”
Q. On the contributions from young players this season and postseason…
TUUKKA RASK: Yeah, I mean, we’ve kind of built this group over the past couple years and we’ve had a lot of young talent coming in, a lot of young guys, and you know, we’ve had a lot of injuries this year so guys have had to step up and they’ve really relished that role and taken it upon themselves to be leaders and be difference makers. So, it really doesn’t come as a surprise to any of us on the team, you know, that’s what it’s all about. You just go out there, you make the plays, and you play within your skills and it shows. Like today, you saw Cliffy’s [Connor Clifton] goal – he plays fearless and it’s great to see; great character as a young player.
