In hockey, goals decide games — but no position can swing a night like a goaltender. Goalies are the backbone of every NHL team, capable of stealing wins when everything breaks down in front of them. And when a goalie posts a shutout, it’s the clearest message possible: one player outplayed an entire opposing lineup.
The NHL has seen its share of legendary netminders, and several of the most memorable have worn a Boston Bruins uniform — from early-era icons who helped build the franchise to modern stars who carried deep playoff runs.
Here’s a breakdown of the best goalies in Bruins history, plus the seasons and postseason performances fans still talk about.
The most iconic Bruins goalies of all time
Cecil “Tiny” Thompson
The Bruins’ first true goaltending superstar, Thompson helped Boston win its first Stanley Cup and became one of the defining goalies of hockey’s early era. He played in Boston from 1928 to 1939 and is credited with a franchise-best 74 shutouts — a number that still feels unreal.
Frank Brimsek
Brimsek stepped in after Thompson and kept the standard high. He won two Stanley Cups with Boston and recorded 35 shutouts among his 230 career wins. He also remains the only Bruins goalie to win the Calder Trophy and Vezina Trophy in the same season — a rare double that speaks to how quickly he became elite.
Gerry Cheevers
A cornerstone of Bruins hockey in the 1970s, Cheevers is remembered for big-game calm, playoff reliability, and being the first goalie to famously “decorate” his mask. A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Cheevers remains one of the most revered goalies the franchise has ever had.
“Cheesy was a big-money player, one of the greatest,” Milt Schmidt said in the book Without Fear (via NHL.com). “When the need was there to make one big save to save a game, Cheesy was there.”
Tuukka Rask
Rask owns the modern Bruins goaltending record book, leading the franchise in major categories like games played (564), wins (308), and playoff wins (57). A Vezina Trophy winner, he also won a Stanley Cup early in his career as a backup and later helped power two more trips to the Final.
Tim Thomas
Thomas delivered one of the greatest single-season peaks in Bruins history. A two-time Vezina winner and Conn Smythe winner, he’s remembered for his toughness, explosive athleticism, and the way he thrived under playoff pressure — including Boston’s championship run.
Best Bruins goalie seasons and playoff runs
Gerry Cheevers: championship-era dominance
Cheevers was at his best when the stakes were highest. He went 12–1 during the 1970 postseason and followed it up by going 6–2 with two shutouts in 1972. He’s also credited with a remarkable 32-game win streak during the 1971–72 season, one of the most eye-popping runs in Bruins goaltending history.
Tim Thomas: the 2010–11 masterpiece
At 37, Thomas authored a season for the ages, posting a .938 save percentage — a single-season mark that still stands out in franchise history. He capped it by winning the Vezina, the Conn Smythe, and the Stanley Cup, putting together one of the most complete goalie campaigns Boston has ever seen.
Tuukka Rask: the 2013 “can’t-miss” series
Even though Boston fell short of the Stanley Cup in 2013, Rask’s performance against Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference Finals was unreal: 134 saves on 136 shots in a four-game sweep. It’s still one of the best series by any Bruins goalie in the modern era.
Linus Ullmark: instant impact in Boston
Ullmark only spent a few seasons in black and gold, but he made them count. In 2022–23, he won the Vezina Trophy and led the NHL in wins (40) and save percentage (.938) — a number tied for the best single-season save percentage in Bruins history.
What Boston expects from its goalies
The Bruins’ goaltending tradition is built on a few constants: consistency, leadership, and composure. Boston goalies are expected to manage momentum — locking down games when the team is rolling, and staying calm when a bad bounce hits the back of the net.
Just as important: the backup matters. Whether it’s injuries, schedule density, or matchups, the Bruins have long valued reliable tandem play. A strong goalie duo can stabilize an entire season — and when Boston has the right combination, it raises the team’s ceiling in the playoffs.