(Photo credit: Sharon Bradley) Tuukka Rask has proved he can handle the duties between the pipes for the black and gold earning three wins in his first four starts.

Two U’s, two K’s and three W’s in his first four starts to the season. The Tuukka Rask era has officially begun on Causeway Street as former goaltender Tim Thomas is now a thing of the past. Rask and the Bruins are 3-0-1 in their first four games and sit one point away from the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Rask has been nothing short of spectacular in the early going notching wins against the Rangers, Jets and Islanders while taking an overtime loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Rask sports a 1.96 goals against average and a .925 save percentage.

Rask believes he is doing nothing out of the ordinary, but he has his team playing great hockey through the first four games.

“You know, I don’t think I’ve done anything spectacular out there,” Rask said. “ I’ve just played pretty much on my level, but I think we’ve been able as a team to squeeze out and get those points.”

Rask points out that his defense has been the key in his most recent success continually giving up their bodies on a nightly basis.

“Yeah, I think in a game situation, things happen quick and sometimes we don’t have the coverage in front of the net we would like to,” Rask said. “I think our defense has done a really good job blocking those shots and taking care of most of the rebounds so I’ve got to thank those guys for that.”

Through the first four games Rask ranks third in wins, seventh in goals against average and 11^th in save percentage. He will get a rest tonight as Anton Khudobin will get his first start for the black and gold against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Rask came off an 11-8-3 record last season before he was injured, but this season he will see closer to 40 starts in 48 game shortened season. Let’s see if Rask can handle the situation. Right now he is doing all a Bruins fan can ask for.