If it wasn’t evident even in a loss to the Washington Capitals Sunday night, something is wrong. Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask has been the best player for Claude Julien over the past week, maybe even the past month.

Rask started all four games last week for the Black and Gold carrying them to a 3-1-0 record with wins over the Senators, Lightning and Penguins. Before Sunday night, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner stopped 101 of 104 shots thrown on him in his last three games.

Against the Capitals, Rask stopped 36 of 38 in the losing effort. If it wasn’t for the 28 year-old net minder, things could have been a lot worse for the Black and Gold.

After their win against the Lightning, Julien expressed his praise for his goaltender during his team’s recent streak of success.

“Well, I think Tuukka is one of many,” Julien said about Rask after his team’s shootout win over Tampa. “There’s no doubt the goaltender gets a lot of praise when things are going well and he gets a lot of heat when things aren’t. He’s been good in my book for a long time and I know he’s been-he looks even better when you’re coming up with some big wins like that.”

While the team’s penalty kill was trying to get back on track by limiting their mistakes in their own zone, Rask has been taking care of the rest stonewalling the opposition on the man advantage. The Capitals goal by John Carlson was the first power-play goal the team has let up on their last nine penalty kills.

Patrice Bergeron even spoke genuinely about Rask in their last home win against the Lightning and how his play has rallied the B’s.

“Yeah he’s been huge,” said the B’s assistant captain. “He gives us a chance to-he gave us a chance to get that extra point for sure. Especially in overtime, down a man he made some huge saves there to keep us in it. He’s been great since that stretch he’s definitely stepped up to the plate and he keeps getting better and he’s definitely a big part of our team.”

Rask is 6-2-2 in his last 10 starts while allowing only three goals just twice. He has recorded one shutout over that span while the B’s have been knocking on the door of the first Wild card spot.

The Finnish goalie now has 29 wins (eighth), a .924 save percentage (ninth) and has played 3,398 minutes ranking him fourth in the NHL. Sunday night, Rask tied his career high in games appeared in with 58. He will surpass that this season and set a new career high by a wide margin.

If the B’s are going to make a run in the playoffs — if they get there — it will hinge on their goaltender. When Rask is locked in, he is tough to beat. On numerous occasions last week, Rask was saving breakaways, readjusting to the plays and making poke checks in shootouts. But, at times, he also allowed a few soft goals.

It’s evident that Rask wants to win. He needs the players in front of him to follow suit.