CLNS Media
  • Home
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Betting
  • NBA History
  • Podcasts
    • podcast
      • A List Podcast
      • Bruins Beat
      • Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman
      • Cedric Maxwell Podcast
      • Celtics Beat
      • Celtics Lab
    • podcast
      • Celtics Postgame Live
      • Dome Theory with Bobby Manning
      • First to the Floor
      • The Garden Report
      • Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast
      • Patriots Beat
    • podcast
      • Pucks with Haggs
      • Patriots Postgame Show
      • Pats Interference
      • Poke the Bear
      • Patriots Daily
      • Red Sox Beat
      • Winning Plays
      • View All Podcasts
  • About
    • About CLNS
    • Our Sponsors
    • Talent
    • Job Opportunities
    • Join Our Network
    • Advertise With Us

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

What's Hot

Bengals Beat: Ted Karras Pleads With Fans To ‘Be Safe’ In Tennessee, Stunned By NFL Fan Violence

09/28/2023

Bengals Beat: How A Little Motion Can Move Bengals Offense Into Next Gear

09/28/2023

How Damian Lillard Trade Impacts Celtics’ Championship Hopes

09/28/2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Discord
CLNS Media
Subscribe
  • Home
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Betting
  • NBA History
  • Podcasts
    • podcast
      • A List Podcast
      • Bruins Beat
      • Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman
      • Cedric Maxwell Podcast
      • Celtics Beat
      • Celtics Lab
    • podcast
      • Celtics Postgame Live
      • Dome Theory with Bobby Manning
      • First to the Floor
      • The Garden Report
      • Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast
      • Patriots Beat
    • podcast
      • Pucks with Haggs
      • Patriots Postgame Show
      • Pats Interference
      • Poke the Bear
      • Patriots Daily
      • Red Sox Beat
      • Winning Plays
      • View All Podcasts
  • About
    • About CLNS
    • Our Sponsors
    • Talent
    • Job Opportunities
    • Join Our Network
    • Advertise With Us
CLNS Media
Home » Tuukka Rask Postgame Comments Far from Bruins Biggest Problem
NHL

Tuukka Rask Postgame Comments Far from Bruins Biggest Problem

Evan MarinofskyBy Evan Marinofsky08/14/2020Updated:09/07/20216 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Aug 13, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40) blocks the shot of Carolina Hurricanes left wing Warren Foegele (13) during the second period in game two of the first round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Share
Facebook Twitter Email

Tuukka Rask strolled into his postgame press conference in what appeared to be a good mood after the Bruins’ 3-2 loss in Game 2. He was open and honest when answering questions about how he managed playing in a back-to-back and how his hip flexor felt.

He was also open and honest when asked about “playoff hockey being playoff hockey” and if the Hurricanes were doing anything extra when invading his crease.

“To be honest with you, it doesn’t really feel like playoff hockey because there’s no fans,” Rask said Thursday night via Zoom. “It’s kind of like you’re playing an exhibition game. Obviously, there are some scrums after the whistle. I haven’t noticed that they would be targeting me or what not. Things happen, people falling on you and what not. But it’s definitely not a playoff atmosphere.”

He continued in a follow-up question.

“You’re trying to play as hard as you can,” Rask said. “Obviously, you’re playing a best of seven series so there’s going to be some battles going on and what not. But when you play at your home rink, you play at an away rink, and there’s fans cheering for you or against you and that creates another buzz around the series. There’s none of that, so it just feels dull at times. There’re moments that, – ok, there’s little scrums and what not. But then there might be five minutes and its just coast to coast hockey and there is no atmosphere. It just feels like an exhibition game.”

Trending
What Can Lamar Stevens Bring to the Celtics?

Wow.

Let’s evaluate this. Are those smart things to say after a playoff loss? Nope. No city in America takes a postseason game more seriously than Boston.

Will he get tons of criticism for this? Oh yes. I’d advise Rask not to check Twitter or turn on the radio Friday. Fans are already taking to Twitter saying Jaroslav Halak should become the starter immediately and that Rask should be sent home. Sports talk radio will echo those sentiments.

There’s some legitimacy to taking issue with when he chose to say this. It’s a bad look to let this out after a first-round loss. It’s also not encouraging for fans to hear this after he’s been a bit shaky since arriving in Toronto. A 1-3-0 record with a 2.57 GAA and .904 save percentage makes the Bruins faithful wince. Add in lots of outrage towards him to begin with and saying it “just feels like an exhibition game” certainly doesn’t help.

But is Rask wrong in saying this doesn’t feel like a playoff atmosphere? No.

What he said is true — this isn’t a typical playoff atmosphere. There are zero (0) fans to help swing momentum on a big hit, save or goal. The filtered in crowd noise when a scrum takes place doesn’t quite match the moment like if it were happening at TD Garden or PNC Arena. We know this.

Through two first-round games, the Bruins don’t seem to have any issue with this impacting their play. They won Game 1, 4-3, in double overtime. Despite losing, 3-2, in Game 2, the Bruins had a strong opening period and unleashed an all-out assault on the Hurricanes in the second half of the final 20 minutes.

Brad Marchand, Sean Kuraly and Joakim Nordstrom killing off Charlie McAvoy’s hooking penalty midway through the final frame sure looked like a team with playoff intensity. It swung the momentum of the game completely — it was just too little, too late.

It’s understandable why there’s massive outrage over what Rask said. But the Bruins have much larger issues at hand, and they were extremely visible Thursday night.

None of them involve the goalie.

For starters, what’s going on with David Pastrnak? Just under 30 minutes before 8 pm, the Bruins tweeted Pastrnak was “unfit to participate” and wouldn’t play Game 2. NESN immediately pulled the footage of Pastrnak jumping up in the air and appearing injured after Bergeron’s OT-winner on Wednesday.

NESN saying this is where David Pastrnak may have gotten injured pic.twitter.com/5DJ0pAuUaD

— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) August 13, 2020

“As for Pasta, he was questionable from the game yesterday afternoon and this morning he was getting treatment, unfit to participate, but we don’t believe it will be long term, that’s a day-to-day thing we hope,” Cassidy said after Game 2. “So obviously targeting Saturday at noon but until we see him tomorrow, and a tough Saturday at noon because it’s tough to test it, get out skating in the morning, so it’ll probably be right down to the game time again on Saturday.”

Based off of that, the Bruins’ most lethal goalscorer could still be out for Game 3. If it’s a nagging injury — and we probably won’t find out about what it could be due to COVID-19 restrictions — it could impact him throughout the postseason, which is exactly what Boston doesn’t want.

As for Game 2, the Bruins dearly missed Pastrnak’s offensive prowess at 5v5 and when they were at 6v5 in the final two minutes. The Bruins didn’t score any goals in either scenario.

Pastrnak potentially missing more time is a much bigger issue than the goaltender’s comments after the game.

Another issue that plagued Boston in Game 2 was their play in the defensive zone.

On Carolina’s second goal, Trevor van Riemsdyk, Martin Necas and Andrei Svechnikov cut through the Bruins’ defensive zone structure with ease. Dougie Hamilton’s game-winner came after a long shift of the Hurricanes controlling play as the Bruins packed it in tight. Nobody was near Hamilton when he sniped one past Rask.

?GOAL!?

Dougie Hamilton with a rocket of a goal against his former team just under halfway through the third to give the Canes the lead.

Hurricanes: 3
Bruins: 2 pic.twitter.com/zmB7F2u6oI

— Boston Bruins on CLNS (@BruinsCLNS) August 14, 2020

Both goals came against the David Krejci line. Zdeno Chara was also on the ice for the two lamplighters. That’s not a great sign for a team who prides themselves on a really strong defensive zone system.

The bottom line is Cassidy doesn’t need to break down Rask’s hotel room door, rip him out of bed and dropkick him all the way back to Boston. That actually isn’t necessary. He doesn’t even need to name Halak as the starter for Game 3.

Yes, Rask has looked a bit wobbly at times. But there is absolutely no reason for the Bruins to give up on him.

Not even for those ill-timed postgame comments.

boston bruins Bruce Cassidy Carolina Hurricanes NHL NHL Playoffs Tuukka Rask
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Evan Marinofsky
  • Twitter

Related Posts

All About Defense & Jake DeBrusk Taking Charge

09/20/2023

How Do the Bruins Stack Up in the Atlantic Division?

09/13/2023

Jake DeBrusk Wants to Stay w/ Bruins + Returning Players in New Roles

09/06/2023

Jim Montgomery’s Projected Top Six For Bruins & Expectations for Montgomery

08/29/2023

Should the Bruins Sign Jake DeBrusk to a Long Term Deal?

08/27/2023

How Can Bruins Fix Their Lowest-Ranked Prospect Pool?

08/22/2023

Comments are closed.

Follow Us
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube
Featured Videos
Featured Videos

Patriots vs Jets Postgame Show

By CLNS Media09/27/2023

Tune in with CLNS Media’s Taylor Kyles and John Zannis as they break down the…

Malcolm Brogdon and Kristaps Porzingis Healthy for Training Camp

09/26/2023

LIVE Patriots Beat: Patriots vs. Jets Reaction

09/26/2023

BREAKING: Lamar Stevens Signs w/ Celtics

09/26/2023
About Us
About Us

Your source for the lifestyle news. This demo is crafted specifically to exhibit the use of the theme as a lifestyle site. Visit our main page for more demos.

We're accepting new partnerships right now.

Email Us: info@example.com
Contact: +1-320-0123-451

Our Picks

Celtics-Pistons Game 2 Betting Odds, Preview and Predictions | BetOnline.ag

01/03/2021

Celtics-Pistons Game 2 Betting Odds, Preview and Predictions | BetOnline.ag

01/03/2021
New Comments
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Discord
    • Home
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • View All Podcasts
    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    2023 North Station Media. Designed by J&R Marketing.


    At North Station Media, we don’t just celebrate diversity, we live it. North Station Media is an equal opportunity employer that commits itself everyday creating the most inclusive environment for all its employees and hiring the best and most qualified individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.