Tuukka Rask started at goalie for the Boston Bruins in Sport 6 of the Stanley Cup 2nd Spherical at the New York Islanders on Wednesday (NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS).
“He’s ready to circulation,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned. “So that is it. Or now not it is that straight forward. He’s our starting goalie and he’s wholesome and ready to circulation. Let’s hope he’s on tonight and we’re better in front of him than in Sport 5.”
Rask used to be questionable with what Cassidy called nagging accidents.
Rask used to be pulled after allowing four targets on 16 photographs in two intervals Monday. Rookie Jeremy Swayman modified Rask to beginning the third duration and made two saves on three photographs in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, a 5-4 loss that attach the Bruins on the brink of elimination within the correct-of-7 series. The winner will play the Tampa Bay Lightning within the Stanley Cup Semifinals.
[RELATED: Complete Islanders vs. Bruins series coverage]
It used to be the 2nd time Rask used to be pulled from an NHL postseason game. He used to be modified by Anton Khudobin in a 4-3 loss when the Bruins trailed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 within the 2nd duration of Sport 5 of the 2018 Jap Conference First Spherical. Rask allowed four targets on 13 photographs.
“I’m now not going to 2nd bet it,” Cassidy mentioned Tuesday of eradicating Rask. “Or now not it is a name we felt used to be the reliable one. We did it. We’re tantalizing on and we are going to glimpse who will get the catch in Sport 6.”
After Sport 5, Cassidy mentioned he assumed Rask would be ready to play Sport 6.
“There are sure issues that address in condo right here,” Cassidy mentioned. “We factored in a chain of assorted issues. Initially, with Tuukka, we’re comfy with his efficiency. He’s been better than he used to be [Monday], however we weren’t real ample in front of him as successfully. Let’s face it.
“We’re now not disappointed with Tuukka’s play. There are some health components. We all know that he missed some time this year. We’re now not going to rep into them, where or now not it is at, all these, does it affect his game. There would possibly per chance be hundreds of games in a row he’s performed. So that, at some level, will likely be a downside within the playoffs. There would possibly per chance be hundreds of issues that toddle into it.”
Rask missed six games after preserving his again at the head of a game in opposition to the New Jersey Devils on March 7. He returned to play one duration in opposition to the Islanders on March 25, then used to be out one other 11 games.
He returned April 15 and used to be 7-1-0 with a 2.07 targets-in opposition to average, .923 place percentage and two shutouts in his last 9 starts. He’s 6-3 with a 2.20 GAA and .925 place percentage in 10 playoff games.
Swayman, a 22-year-historical rookie, used to be 7-3-0 with a 1.50 GAA, .945 place percentage and two shutouts in 10 in trend-season games, and moved ahead of Jaroslav Halak on the depth chart. Sooner than changing Rask, Swayman last performed Would possibly per chance per chance 11, Boston’s in trend-season finale.
“He’s continuously got to be ready,” Cassidy mentioned. “He’s the No. 2.”
The Bruins were without forward Curtis Lazar in Sport 6. He sustained a decrease-physique spoil throughout Sport 5 when he went into the boards attempting to hit Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech.
Defensemen Kevan Miller and Brandon Carlo additionally are out for Sport 6. Miller missed his seventh straight game with an undisclosed spoil. Carlo (undisclosed) used to be sidelined for a third straight game.
NHL.com workers writer Amalie Benjamin contributed to this document
