Tuukka Rask, the Boston Bruins’ goalkeeper, said offseason surgery is a possibility for a persistent ailment that kept him from playing in the East Division Final against the New York Islanders. After the Bruins’ 6-2 defeat to the Islanders in Game 6 on Wednesday night, which eliminated Boston from the playoffs, Rask refused to reveal the severity of his illness. “I don’t believe that needs to be the headline right now,” the goalkeeper remarked after stopping 23 of 27 shots in the defeat.
In Boston’s Game 5 loss on Monday night, Rask was removed after two periods, with coach Bruce Cassidy noting “there was some maintenance that needed to be done” and that Rask “wasn’t himself.”
On Wednesday, Cassidy said Rask was fighting with an ailment he sustained earlier this season, but that Rask said he was healthy enough to play in Game 6.
“He wasn’t really honest with himself. I’m not sure if he was 95 percent or 92 percent. We communicate with him on a daily basis. He’s all set to depart. We gave him time to rest at the hospital. midst of the season, and if it was required, we would have given him time to recuperate in the playoffs. He’s our starting goaltender, he stated he was ready to play, and that’s all there is to it “”said the coach.”
“It’s possible that surgery will be required. “It’s possible there won’t be,” Cassidy added. “He and the medical personnel will make that decision.”
Rask didn’t have his best game on Wednesday night, according to Cassidy.
“Of sure, he could’ve done a better job. As I mentioned before, we could have cleared or controlled some rebounds more effectively. But we also mishandled several pucks and placed them in inconvenient locations “he stated
Boston was missing injured defenseman Brandon Carlo and Kevan Miller, two veterans who were badly missed as the Bruins struggled to deal with the Islanders’ forecheck. The first four Islanders goals were scored as a result of Bruins defensive blunders.
On the first of multiple defensive blunders by the Bruins, New York scored first. Travis Zajac battled off a push from Charlie McAvoy in front of the Boston net and sent the puck beyond Rask for a 1-0 lead.
Brad Marchand scored a power-play goal at 17:36 of the first period to level the game, taking advantage of two consecutive Islanders penalties. These decisions were notable because Boston coach Bruce Cassidy was fined $25,000 for charging that the Game 5 umpires were biassed towards New York.
After Game 5, Cassidy remarked, “I think they sell a storey over there that it’s more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders.” “All they have to do now is get started. As soon as you see the game, call it as you see it. Stop listening to other influences and get the job done well.”
During their penalty kills, Islanders supporters chanted “New York Saints” in response to the outburst. Some supporters donned hats with the Islanders’ emblem on them, while others donned bishop’s hats with the Islanders’ emblem on them.
In the second period, Boston’s errors persisted. At 5:20 of the second period, Brock Nelson stripped defenseman Matt Grzelcyk of the on a breakaway, he scored near centre ice.
Nelson scored again at 12:39 of the second period, when Boston defenseman Mike Reilly botched a pass from Rask, allowing the Islanders to score. The pass was described by Rask as “a grenade” that resulted in a turnover.
On another Grzelcyk mistake, this time right in front of Rask, Kyle Palmieri made it 4-1.
“Definitely, I could have made a few more saves. I didn’t get around to it today. The season came to an end. I fought back. I gave it my all. I just came up short “Rask said.
Marchand made it 4-2 in the third period with a power-play goal. For the final margin, the Islanders scored two empty-net goals.
The Bruins’ senior nucleus of Rask, Marchand, centre Patrice Bergeron, and centre David Krejci has yet again wasted an opportunity to bring home another Stanley Cup.
“Everyone is getting older. It won’t persist indefinitely. It will, without a doubt, close at some time “Rask said.
This summer, both Krejci and Rask are unrestricted free agents. Rask, who is 34 years old, might have played his final game with the Bruins. Boston will also have to decide whether or not to keep winger and former league MVP Taylor Hall, who struggled against the Islanders.
“We’ll have to wait and see. Right now, I’m at a loss for words “Rask said. “It’s a heartbreaking defeat. We’ll have our farewell meetings and begin making plans for the future.”
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