The Bruins have been building up a pretty good head of steam, playing their best hockey of the season heading into next Sunday’s season finale in New Jersey. The team has a chance to go deep into the playoffs for the first time in a long while.

Fans have forgotten how much fun a long NHL playoff drive can be. The Bruins haven’t won a playoff round in five years; they haven’t made it beyond the second round in 12.

This team could do that, and get the upper decks of the FleetCenter rocking again. To accomplish that goal, it needs top-notch goaltending.

Andrew Raycroft, step up to the plate.

“Razor” is the most important piece of the Bruins’ post-season puzzle. A 23-year old playing in his fourth year of pro hockey is the man who will have to match up against a Martin Brodeur, Eddie Belfour, and Jose Theodore in the weeks ahead. A rookie who has never played an NHL playoff game will be handed the keys to the team and asked to drive the Bruins into June.

Is he up to the task?

“I’ve been through these big games we have been playing the last week or two, just kind of feeling it out, feeling the intensity going up a few notches,” said Raycroft.. “Probably the next week or two as it gets a little closer, I will ask a few guys how different it is. I kind of like going in with an open slate and seeing how I react and how I deal with it.”

Fans are eager to see how Raycroft deals with the pressure of the post-season. He’s been nothing short of spectacular this season, and is a sure-fire bet to win the Calder Trophy (NHL Rookie of the Year.) He’s closing in on 30 wins, with a goals-against average hovering around two. He’s got a blue-chip goaltending pedigree, and in 2000 was named the Ontario Hockey League’s MVP — the first goalie in 50 years to earn that honor.

What he doesn’t have is a postseason resume to boast about. In the past six years he has won a total of two playoff games. In three years of AHL action, and three years of junior hockey, Raycroft is a career 2-12 in the playoffs. He has never won a round.

“Obviously it’s going to be a battle,” said Raycroft. “The first round is probably going to be the toughest round.”

Still, Raycroft likes his chances — in large part because he likes the way the team is playing.

“I think we are clicking at the right time,” Raycroft said. “We are obviously gelling and coming together as a team at the right time. We understand there are still two more weeks until the playoffs and we have to continue to work hard and continue to stay disciplined in our system and what we want to accomplish.

“I think we are going to be a tough team to play, and we all understand that and we know what it takes. If we come to the rink every day and work hard, good things will come.”

This isn’t to say Raycroft won’t get the job done come playoff time.

He has given no indication of a let-up, and has a top-notch veteran waiting in the wings. Should Raycroft falter, Felix Potvin will be ready to jump in and add to his 35 career NHL playoff victories.

History shows a young goalie can do the job. Patrick Roy never won a playoff series in the Quebec League, but in his rookie season led the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the post-season MVP.

No one’s suggesting that Andrew Raycroft is Patrick Roy, but he’s had a terrific season and can put an exclamation point on the storyline with a solid spring.

Lewiston native Tom Caron covers the Bruins and Red Sox for NESN.

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