The Bruins haven’t had a whole lot to feel good about recently. You usually don’t when you lose four of five, score more than one goal just once in that stretch, and get outscored 8-1 in your last two games.
They desperately needed something or someone to rally around and lift their spirits. Enter Dan Vladar.
The Bruins didn’t want to have to turn to a third goalie, just like they haven’t wanted to use as many defensemen and forwards as injuries have forced them to use this season.
But with Tuukka Rask still recovering from injury and Jaroslav Halak needing a night off after four straight starts, it was time for a rookie to get his first NHL start.
Vladar seemed like the less exciting of the two options for most Bruins fans. Jeremy Swayman has generated more buzz with his excellent start for AHL Providence, and many were quick to judge Vladar on a rough half a game in the playoffs back in August -- a game against the eventual Stanley Cup champs that was a blowout and in which his teammates had seemingly already given up.
Starting Vladar turned out to be exactly the right call on Tuesday, though. He stopped 34 of the 35 shots he faced to lead the Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Penguins. Midway through the first period, he made probably the save of the season when he reached his stick across an empty net and just got his paddle on a golden rebound chance from Colton Sceviour.
“It was pretty unreal. Once he did that, I knew he’s locked in, and we knew we had to get the win for him,” said Trent Frederic, who’s also played with Vladar in Providence and who scored the winning goal for him on Tuesday. “He’s really worked hard all the way up to this point.”
That hard work is what gets ignored when you draw conclusions from a period and half instead of the five years Vladar has been in the Bruins organization. He has consistently improved and last season he led the AHL in save percentage and goals-against average. He was off to a strong start this season as well before getting called up.
After the game, it was clear just how much this meant for Vladar, and just how grateful he was to get this opportunity. (Seriously, it’s worth watching his whole postgame press conference in the video at the top of this post just to see his genuine joy and emotion.)
“Just the happiest guy in the world right now,” Vladar said. “It was always my dream to play in the NHL, and I got the opportunity and I won, so there hasn’t been a better day for me hockey-wise. I really appreciate that the coaches gave me a chance, and I think it was a great team effort.”
When asked what he planned to do with the game puck from his first NHL win, Vladar answered: “Probably gonna sleep with it tonight. I might buy some safe and just lock it there so that no one can steal it from me.”
Vladar picked the Bruins up on the ice when they desperately needed it, and he also provided them a nice pick-me-up story that probably sent them to bed with smiles on their faces.
We’re not going to go crazy and call this some major turning point. Vladar didn’t solve the Bruins’ offensive issues or heal their banged-up defense. It’s unclear if he’ll even get another start.
But for one night, he gave them something to feel good about. And for a team that hasn’t had much of that lately, that’s good enough for now.