Boston Bruins Goaltending: Who's No. 1?

The Boston Bruins won their 10th game in a row tonight, at home, against the Eastern Conference Champs Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-2. Netminder for the night, Manny Fernandez, stood on his head and saved the game with 30-saves, to improve to a 9-0-0 record at the TD BankNorth Garden.

Back-up goalie, for the night, Tim Thomas watched from the bench as the Black and Gold continued their onslaught on the NHL. The one-two-punch of Fernandez-Thomas in net, are one of the main reasons for the historical Bruins season, thus far.

Thomas was the first goalie off the ice Thursday, during the morning skate, which generally means he would get the nod tonight. The arrows pointed towards Thomas. He just came off a 32-save victory against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins in a 5-2 victory on Tuesday in Pittsburgh. And despite being 7-0-0 in his last seven starts, with a 2.60 GAA, .920 SV% and a shutout in that span, Manny got the start.

I am a die-hard Bruins fan. There has been many years of watching the Bruins management ruin this franchise, and I was another Joe-Thornton-trade-away from cashing in my Big Bad Bruins card. From the day Peter Chiarelli stepped in and made some big-time moves (Savard, Chara, and Fernandez), I was right back in. Moreover, when they named Claude Julien the head coach after Dave Lewis, I put my name in for season tickets. And I got 'em.

The newly acquired coaching staff, and management, is the other key to the Bruins success this year. Coach Julien is clearly making players more accountable on both sides of the puck. The playoffs last season was an invaluable experience as well.

So, having said all that, I don't want to fast-forward this season. I've spent too much money on my tickets. I've spent too much money—in the past—on aspirin and Mylanta. I want to relish in this unprecedented season and ride it out for however long it lasts.

But, I can't hold back anymore. Who is going to be the Bruins No. 1 goalie at the end of this 2008-2009 season?

Manny Fernandez is 13-2-1 with a 2.02-GAA (second) and .930-SV% (fourth) , and Tim Thomas 16-3-3 with a 2.04-GAA (3rd) .935-SV% (3rd). Both studs are top five goalies in all of the NHL. Both goalies are legitimate No. 1's. Both goalies will turn 35-years old by next season. And both goalies are in the final years of their contracts with the Bruins.

Next in line: Finland's own, 6'2" Tuukka Rask. A prospect goalie who is, and has been, tearing it up with the Bruins ALH team, Providence Bruins.

Rask made a brief appearance in the NHL last season with Boston. Posting a 2-1-1 record with a 3.25-GAA and .886 SV%.

This year in the AHL, he posts a 14-12 record, with a 2.53-GAA and .916-SV%. So, is this kid ready to make it full-time in the big-leagues, as the Bruins #1?

Probably not.

I foresee the Bruins signing either Fernandez or Thomas, not both, with Rask coming up as a back-up, for the 2009-2010 season. Tuukka needs a lot more exposure to the NHL level before being "thrown to the wolves." My guess is that they (Manny & Timmy) will both seek another No. 1 slot somewhere else—especially with the season that they, and the Bruins, are having.

But until then. Let's just sit-back, relax, and enjoy this remarkable season—and watch our dominant team with our dominant goalies.