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Rask proving doubters wrong with near-perfect play down the stretch

Winslow Townson / USA Today Sports

Tuukka Rask suffers no fools.

One week ago, questions abounded in regards to his ability to carry the Boston Bruins back to the postseason following a one-game absence due to injury.

There was even at least one call for interim head coach Bruce Cassidy to start Anton Khudobin - who did indeed step up in Rask's brief absence - until the backup lost a game, something he frequently did in the first half of the season.

But since his return to the crease March 28, Rask has posted a perfect 4-0-0 record with two shutouts and a .972 save percentage.

His latest clean sheet, earned in a playoff-clinching win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, set a new career high at eight, topping the seven he recorded in 2013-14, the season in which he won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie.

He concurrently recorded a career-high 38th win of the season, with his previous benchmark of 37 also coming in 2013-14.

Rask's season save percentage isn't quite as strong as it was three years ago, but neither is Boston's blue line.

In recent days, Rask has stepped up when his team needed him most, temporarily silencing those who seem to have forgotten what he's capable of.

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