Took-a sabbatical
Rask missing in action once again for big game
NEW YORK — For the second year in a row, Tuukka Rask was unavailable for a big game.
The goalie was unable to play for the Bruins last night against the New York Islanders because of a lower-body injury and has been termed day-today. Backup Anton Khudobin played in the matchup of teams tied in points for the final wild card playoff berth in the Eastern Conference as the Bruins prevailed 2-1 over the Islanders.
“He came in (Friday), had some discomfort, lower body, so he had some work done and didn’t feel like he’d be ready to go,” interim coach Bruce Cassidy said yesterday morning at the Barclays Center. “We had talked about getting Anton in anyway, that was part of it. Those plans are always subject to changes. There’s no real surprise in that area, but we’re monitoring it closely. But we expect him to be ready to practice on Monday.”
Prior to the final game last season against the Ottawa Senators, Rask fell ill and could not play. The B’s subsequently got hammered by the Senators and finished outside the playoffs for the second year in a row.
How long he’s been battling this latest injury is not known, but his play has slipped of late. Rask was pulled from a 7-4 loss in Edmonton that started the fourgame losing streak the B’s ended last night. He also let in a couple of shaky goals in a 6-3 loss Thursday at the Garden to Tampa Bay.
Zane McIntyre arrived from AHL Providence on an emergency as Khudobin’s backup.
Rask was an early candidate for the Vezina Trophy when he masked some of the team’s shortcomings, but his save percentage has dropped to .910, well off his career mark of .922.
With all that in mind, Cassidy said he may have gone with Khudobin even if Rask was available. Marchand cools off After charging to the lead of the league’s scoring race a week ago, Brad Marchand was held to just one assist in three straight games before last night. The winger has been a combined minus-6 in those games, as he along with linemate center
Patrice Bergeron have been held in check. Marchand and Bergeron both were held off the scoresheet by the Isles.
Cassidy was asked if he thought Marchand was trying to do too much.
“Well, Brad’s a guy that takes a lot of pride in his game and he wants to win, so at times, when it’s not working out, it’ll appear that way. And he’ll appear frustrated,” Cassidy said.
“I think players like him — and I see it with ( Sidney) Crosby, all the top-end players — when things don’t go their way. They want to be difference makers. Brad is no different right now,” Cassidy continued.
“Brad’s game is still solid. He’s got a target on his back and I think you see that a little bit right now with ( David) Pastrnak.
This time of year, they want to get them off their game, because they’ve been good players for us. That’s part of becoming an elite player,” he said. “You have to deal with that and channel your emotions in a proper way. Brad and Pasta are both going through a little bit of that right now. It’s a good thing that they’re top end, they just need to learn to work through it. I think Brad has. It’s a little bit new to Pasta, maybe.”
Marchand said it mostly has to do with the calendar.
“I think teams just know that our top line’s been producing pretty consistently all year and teams, especially ones we’ve been playing lately who are in the playoff race (with us), so they’re bearing down,” he said. “But this time of year, teams are tightening up. That’s just the way it is.” Pasta frustration
Pastrnak showed a little frustration against the Islanders, and the Bruins were lucky it was not more costly. After Stephen Gionta took him out with a check along the boards, Pastrnak chased him down and popped him with his gloved left fist.
It wasn’t clear if he caught Gionta with the butt end of his stick or not. He was given two minutes for roughing — a lucky break — and the Bruins managed to kill off the penalty.
“I’m not OK with it,” Cassidy said. “Listen, you want guys to have a certain level of emotion and intensity, but that’s one in hindsight where he’s probably got to bite his tongue and take a number, especially this time of year.” . . . Matt Beleskey (family leave) was not with the team, so Jimmy Hayes drew back into the lineup. . . . Former Bruins defenseman
Dennis Seidenberg had been a healthy scratch in the Islanders’ previous two games but he was back in last night.
“He needed some rest after that (nine-game) trip. It was pretty taxing. He wasn’t too happy about it, but that’s how it is,” said Islanders coach Doug
Weight. “He’ll be excited to play against his old team. He’s earned the right. He’s had a good year, he’s plus-23 and he’s been a big piece of this.”
Seidenberg was minus-1 with three blocks. Twitter: @conroyherald