John Tortorella Needs to be Careful not to Give Bobrovsky too Much Rest
John Tortorella should not over think the amount of time he gives Sergei Bobrovsky to rest. He needs to continue showing Bob time- Here’s why.
Sergei Bobrovsky has been playing incredible lately, including putting up three straight shutouts, earning him the NHL second star of the week. Bob is one of the top three net-minders in the league. Here’s a breakdown by the numbers.
Obviously, as the season dwindles, John Tortorella is going to want to rest Bobrovsky but I really think he needs to be careful how much. Goalie is a delicate position- it’s one of rhythm and flow. Being in a groove is everything for a goalie. Bob is going to need consistent looks in game situations to stay sharp and ready as the playoffs approach. It can no doubt be a tiring position if ridden too hard, but Bob needs games down the stretch.
Another reason to be cognizant of Bobrovsky’s playing time late is that the games are going to continue to be important and the opponents don’t get easier.
Playoff Race
The Columbus Blue Jackets currently hold a two-point lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoff race and will need to continue to win in order to hold on to the second spot in the Metropolitan. Securing second will give the Jackets home ice advantage in the first round.
The Jackets are also only five points out of first place in their division and subsequently, the league. They are within striking distance of the Washington Capitals and the franchise’s first President’s Trophy. This is especially true with two of their remaining games coming against the Caps- a potential for an eight point swing.
Upcoming Opponents
As mentioned, the Jackets still have to play the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs twice as well as the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins once each.
Columbus has 17 games remaining and I think Bob needs at least 10-12 of those games. Luckily for the Jackets, Joonas Korpisalo is a more than capable tendy who might even see some time in the playoffs, given the right conditions. Torts is in a great spot here between the pipes but still needs to play his cards right in order to maintain the effectiveness of both his goalies.