Rask leaves B’s practice early
As if the Bruins didn’t have enough concerns with the absences of David Pastrnak and Ondrej Kase, they also had an unscheduled early exit from practice by Tuukka Rask on Thursday.
In Tuesday’s practice, Rask had taken a shot that caused him some discomfort. He briefly left the ice and went down the runway, but returned a few minutes later. On Thursday, he left after early line rushes and, this time, he did not return.
Coach Bruce Cassidy did not have a full update.
“If it continues (it’s a concern),” said Cassidy. “I think he got stung the other day with a shot, hit him in the wrong spot, so maybe that was acting up today. I’m going to get an update in a little bit. If it was anything serious, (the trainers) have not come to me, so that’s typically a good sign if they don’t come right to you.
“I’m suspecting he’s had a little bit of bad luck in the same spot a couple days. Hopefully it sorts itself out. These will be some of the bumps and bruises and aches that will appear now with your group.”
By virtue of his position and how well he plays it, Rask is the most important player on the Bruins. He was terrific in the B’s run to the Stanley Cup Final last year and could be a finalist for the Vezina Award given to the league’s top goaltender. It would be his second. So, no, it would not be ideal for the B’s to lose him.
But the B’s do have an enviable insurance policy in Jaroslav Halak, who posted an 18-6-6 record with a 2.39 goals against average and .919 save percentage. A decade ago, Halak backstopped the Canadiens to a surprise run to the Eastern Conference Final.
If Rask has any lingering issue, it’s easy to imagine Halak seeing playing time in meaningful games.
‘Trying to stay responsible’
The feeling among some players and coaches is that if this 24-team tournament gets derailed, it will happen now during Phase 3, when players still have freedom to move about their local environs before everyone goes to the more controlled situation of the hub cities of Toronto and Edmonton.
Cassidy gave some insight into where he draws the line.
“You’re trying to stay responsible because the last thing I want to do is get infected with the coronavirus and have to stay away from my teammates and risk infecting them,” said Cassidy. “For example, last night I’m at my daughter’s field hockey game and I like the parents, I want to talk to them, but I want to stay as far away as I can while still supporting her. And the son (Cole) has baseball right after that and you’re trying to catch that. And I enjoy watching my kids’ sports. That part of it, yes, we’re trying to maximize that.”
“We are not out at restaurants,” Cassidy said. “I think we went once or twice at an outdoor seating one when they first opened but I just don’t think that’s necessary. But watching your kids’ activities for me is. I need to be there, I want to be there. Those are the parts you prioritize, at least I do, and go from there. We need to get to Toronto healthy as a group here to give ourselves the best chance to win. I certainly want to do my part.”
Picking up the intensity
For the first time, the B’s split up the squad and scrimmaged. Cassidy saw some expected conditioning issues but otherwise was pleased given the circumstances.
“In the moment they were fine, they were battling. Guys need to recognize the urgency level, and that’s normal. Guys have not been involved,” said Cassidy.
“If you’re going to compare it to the start of the year, in August, they’ll play 5-on-5 hockey for at least 10 times before they hit the ice (in training camp) and get used to that part of it with the bodies around them. Listen, it may not be intense, but they haven’t been able to do that. The maximum amount was four or five guys at a time, then it built up to about 12 guys, so that part of it we’re going to have to phase in and that’s why we’re at it a little bit early here, basically Day 3 on the ice.
“We have to acknowledge as coaches that they’re going to be behind in that area. So we’re not over-evaluating what they’re doing in time and space just yet. We just want them to get back to being comfortable with people around them and for guys to be respectful of one another. As it goes along, we’ll ramp it up more each day. Again, you’re going right into high intensity hockey and we need to be ready for it, so let’s work up to it. I was pleased that the guys handled it well and we’ll see how it is (Friday) if there’s any residual effect body-wise.”
Also on Thursday, assistant coach Kevin Dean made his first appearance at practice since the restart.