Interesting...

Communication Leads to Calming Effect

NEW YORK, NY - The Bruins always preach about how confident and calm their steady goaltender Tuukka Rask is between the pipes. He’s always a “calming influence,” they say. But it’s not just the confidence the B’s have in knowing he will stop the puck nearly every time he sees it. The netminder’s communication with his teammates, primarily the defensemen, goes a long way.

“He’s one of the guys that never stops talking out there, so he’s comforting. He’s always talking to you, letting you know your options,” said blueliner Torey Krug, following an optional skate Wednesday afternoon at Madison Square Garden the day before Game Four. Krug has now appeared in three NHL playoff games for Boston.

“The game is a lot easier when your goaltender is talking to you.”

“Every time I go back for pucks, he’s in my ear, he’s telling me my options, even when I can’t see. It’s great. He’s a very confident, calm, collected goaltender back there.”

“I know I have the ability to take risks that normally you might not take, but I know Tuukka’s back there and he’s going to make a big save for me.”

That communication also translates to the defensive corps in front of him.

“The big thing is just talking,” said Krug. “The more you talk, the easier the game is. Everybody’s talking a lot, Zee, Johnny’s in my ear all the time, Quaider’s a more quiet guy, but when we’re out on the ice, he’s yelling and screaming when I have the puck.”

“I think communication is the biggest thing.”

^CS