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Boston Bruins: 5 burning questions heading into the 2018-19 season

By Bruin Belisle

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Boston's tip line of Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37), Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) and Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) skate out for a face off during Game 5 of the First Round for the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 21, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 4-3. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Boston's tip line of Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37), Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) and Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) skate out for a face off during Game 5 of the First Round for the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 21, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 4-3. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Building on a successful 2017-18 season and a young, talented roster, the Boston Bruins are one of the few teams in the mix for a Stanley Cup this year. Here are the five burning questions the team faces heading into 2018-19.

Simply put: the 2017-18 Boston Bruins ran out of gas. The season ended with a loss to the Florida Panthers in a game that should have clinched them the first overall seed and made their road to the final easier.

Instead, Tampa Bay kept first in the East and the Bruins were put through a grueling seven-game series with a talented Toronto Maple Leafs team. The Bruins moved on to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, and everyone aside from the top line and Jake DeBrusk was spent.

Despite the ending, the season was a huge success for the Bruins. Coming in to the 2017-18 season, expectations were low from anyone outside the organization. They were in the midst of a mini-rebuild and a few years away from competing for a Cup.

That quickly changed in the month of December, when the Bruins began to rattle off wins at an alarming rate. This carried on through the back half of the season, despite dealing with injuries to a handful of key players.

This season, the Bruins look to build on the success and experience gained from last year, get back into the playoffs and win a few more games this time. Here are five of the things they will have to address to do so.

Bruins
BOSTON, MA – DECEMBER 09: New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) makes a left pad save on Boston Bruins center David Backes (42) during a game between the Boston Bruins and the New York Islanders on December 9, 2017, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, The Bruins defeated the Islanders 3-1. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5. Can Jaroslav Halak be what Anton Khudobin was?

Short answer: Yes. Long answer: It could be better or it could be worse for Tuukka Rask this coming season. Halak has had his share of starter experience and has been great as a back up several times through his career. Hopefully this is one of those times.

In the 31 games he saw, Anton Khudobin was playing as good as a starting goaltender last season, which allowed Rask to take breaks when he was struggling, both physically and/or mentally. Halak should be able to fill the same role for Rask.

In 54 games for the New York Islanders last season, Halak held a .908 save percentage and a 3.19 goals against average. While these numbers are not great, the two seasons prior to 2017-18 saw Halak play less than 40 games as a back up, where he was far more successful.

In 2015-16, he played 36 games and boasted a 2.30/.919. The next season, he played 28 games and had 2.80/.915 averages. Khudobin played 31 games for the Bruins last season, with a .913 save percentage and a 2.56 goals against. Slightly below Halak’s numbers in a reserve role.

Halak has been know to go on hot (and cold) streaks. When he is playing well, he can be incredible. Unfortunately, he hasn’t reached these levels as a starter in some time. Playing for the Bruins, he won’t have to.

Rask showed last year that he can buckle down and win big games in the playoffs. Whether you’re a Rask hater or not (there are many), the goaltending duo in Boston will be as good as any in the league.

If you still aren’t sold on these two then consider this: Rask is only 31. In goaltender years, he is just now entering his prime. He’s improved over the last three seasons and the Bruins added a veteran second-stringer with a ton of experience behind him.

Expect  a career year from Tuukka Rask and a career resurgence from Jaro Halak. This combination has a great chance to improve upon a great season from Rask/Khudobin in 2017-18.

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