Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask played solid in overtime loss to Columbus

Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask was on the receiving end of three defining plays in Thursday night’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at the TD Garden.

Rask benefited from a coach’s challenge, was victimized by friendly fire and succumbed to a two-on-one break in overtime all while recording 31 saves against a relentless opponent.

“He was solid, the goal that went by him was a lucky bounce,” said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. “He had no chance on the last one, we didn’t defend it very well. He was really good for us.”

Rask’s record is 15-4-6 and is 2-0-3 in his last five starts while continuing his season long effort to protect home ice. Rask extended his home points streak to 16 games (10-0-6) with the overtime point.

Rask owns the longest home points streak to open a season by a Bruins goalie since Gilles Gilbert went 16-0-1 in his first 17 decisions in 1973.

“He was great and he gave us a chance to win,” said Bruins defenseman Torey Krug. “He played well, he gave us a chance to win and they made one more play than us.”

Rask’s 25th game of the campaign got off to shaky start when Columbus first line left wing Gustav Nvquist scored on a rebound 17 seconds into the first period.

Cassidy challenged the goal when it was obvious from the replay that center Boone Jenner was in the crease and blocked Rask’s access to the near post. Cassidy’s challenge was upheld and the goal was disallowed, one of the rare occurrences this season when a call to Toronto went the Bruins way.

“I felt something preventing me to push there, like somebody was jamming my pad” said Rask. “I couldn’t figure it out so I wasn’t protesting and then I saw the replay and I was like ‘yeah.’ I think they got that right because it was one of those where it might not look just awful. But it was one of those where it was worse than it looks so I agree with that.”

David Pastrnak gave Boston a 1-0 lead on a power play one- timer slap shot from the left point at 11:07 of the first. The Blue Jackets tied the game on an unfortunate bounce at 2:06 of the second that didn’t emanate from an enemy stick.

Columbus left wing Sonny Milano got the puck behind the Bruins net and advanced to the bottom of the circle while Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk engaged with an opponent in front. Milano’s bad angle shot went off the back of Grzelcyk’s skate and by Rask.

“It was just one of those “what are you going to do?” said Rask. “I was tracking the puck and it looked like it was going to the opposite side and all of sudden it hits a skate and goes in. It’s just one of those where sometimes it bounces your way and sometimes it doesn’t and in that case, it didn’t go our way.”

The Bruins dominated the opening minute of overtime with aggressive plays that ultimately led to a 2-on-1 break the other way. Pierre-Luc Dubois took a feed from Seth Jones and beat Rask top shelf 52 seconds into the frame.

“I was playing the shot and he made a pretty hard pass,” said Rask. “Then I heard a sound of a post and then a celebration. It looked like a pretty hard heavy shot.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/36qzxCY