Tuukka Rask is always a major storyline come playoffs, and this year is no different for the Bruins.
After Rask opted out of the playoffs last year to deal with a family emergency, he is back to being Boston’s No. 1 goalie as the Bruins prepare for Saturday night’s Game 1 against the Washington Capitals.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t questions, though. Rask missed more than a month from early March to mid-April with an upper-body injury (believed to be his back), and acknowledged as recently as last week that he’s still not 100% physically.
He has played well since returning, going 7-1-0 with a .923 save percentage, but did look a little bit shaky in his final two starts.
The other significant part of this conversation is his new backup. Rookie Jeremy Swayman has been excellent in his 10 NHL starts, going 7-3-0 with a .945 save percentage and winning the No. 2 job away from Jaroslav Halak in the process.
So, what would it take for Bruce Cassidy and his staff to start Swayman over Rask? Appearing on The Greg Hill Show Friday morning, NESN color commentator Andy Brickley said that while it’s not quite a “short leash,” he doesn’t think the Bruins would have any hesitation turning to Swayman if Rask struggles.
“I don’t know if it’s a short leash. I don’t know if that’s the word I’d use. But I think Bruce Cassidy is certainly willing to play the guy who gives him the best chance to win that night,” Brickley said. “If Tuukka’s not on his A game, if he’s giving up soft goals, if the rebounds are bad -- which is generally the case if Tuukka’s not on his game, which isn’t all that often -- they have no problem and no hesitation putting Swayman in. That’s how much they believe in him.”
As far as Rask’s health goes, Brickley said it doesn’t concern him, but that if there is any issue there, that could be another path towards Swayman playing.
“No, it doesn’t. When I watch Tuukka, and I think when you have a conversation with the coaching staff, to my eyes, he looks like he’s healthy and he’s moving well and he’s fluid, and he’s not battling anything,” Brickley said. “If their trained eye says something different, I would defer to their opinion. But I think he’s 100 percent, he’s ready to go, he’s well rested obviously. That’s one of the things you need for Tuukka. He’s not built for a heavy workload. With this schedule -- it’s going to be every other day starting Saturday -- if there’s any indication that he’s laboring, then you’ll see a different goaltender.”
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