Sweeney: Lack of capable backup has put tremendous pressure on Bruins
The Boston Bruins still haven't improved their backup goaltending situation, and Don Sweeney knows that's a major reason why the club has underachieved.
“It’s an area that has put a tremendous amount of pressure on our group," the general manager said Tuesday, according to CSNNE's Joe Haggerty, at the press conference addressing the firing of former head coach Claude Julien.
The revolving-door crew that's played behind starter Tuukka Rask is comprised of veteran Anton Khudobin as well as rookies Zane McIntyre and Malcolm Subban. The trio is a collective 1-10-2 with respective goals-against averages over 3 and save percentages south of .900.
| Goalie | GP | GS | Record | GAA | SV % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khudobin | 8 | 7 | 1-5-1 | 3.06 | .885 |
| McIntyre | 8 | 3 | 0-4-1 | 3.96 | .858 |
| Subban | 1 | 1 | 0-1-0 | 5.81 | .813 |
Sweeney admitted that expediting McIntyre's and Subban's development wasn't in the original plans.
"Anton didn’t get off to a great start, and then got injured," Sweeney said. "That hurt us a little bit. We weren’t looking to accelerate either Zane or Malcolm in that situation. We’ve always had an eye towards the development for both of those players.
“Malcolm('s) injury last year impacted him a little bit, I believe, and where he is at today. But that’s the depth of the organization. That’s what you want to see. Is there a right time? You’ve seen players from the American Hockey League have the success they’ve had, and they’ve been able to do it at the next level. It hasn’t necessarily materialized at this point for Zane, but he’s undefeated (in the AHL) going in."
The Bruins' backup woes have been an issue for months, but Sweeney said Tuesday their inability to fix the problem is not due to a lack of trying. He told reporters that he has looked outside the organization to address the problem, but a sensible solution hasn't presented itself.
Rask has played 44 of Boston's 55 games so far, and he's allowed nine goals combined in his last two starts - both losses - after reeling off three straight wins.
"Tuukka is our No. 1 and he’s established that," new head coach Bruce Cassidy said at the same press conference Tuesday.
"(But) it would be great if your No. 2 (goalie) can come in and push your No. 1. (Giving) him the appropriate and that internal competition I think is always great,” said Cassidy. “We haven’t had that as much as we’d like this year, and we’re all aware of that."