History isn’t exactly on Tuukka Rask’s side going into the Stanley Cup Final.
Now, let’s be clear here — Rask has been nothing short of dominant this postseason, leading all netminders with a .942 save percentage over 17 games played.
The B’s goalie has especially excelled when it comes to negating high-danger scoring chances, pacing all playoff performers with a .918 save percentage on those quality looks. Add in 6.93 goals saved above average rate (once again, tops among all goalies), and Rask has been nearly impervious during Boston’s run to the Cup.
But Rask and the Bruins’ utter dominance against the Hurricanes during the Eastern Conference Final very well could work to their disadvantage going into the fourth and final round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Blues.
Following their sweep of the ‘Canes, the Bruins are in the midst of the longest break for a club going into the Cup Final during the salary cap era — with 11 days standing between Boston in Game 1 at TD Garden on May 27.
Rask has been locked in for the past five weeks, but even Bruce Cassidy was quick to note that the risk of rust forming is always the top fear when it comes to an extended layoff for a goalie.
“Clearly, we'd love to run him right back out there,” Boston’s head coach said. “The whole group, to be honest with you. We'll talk to him too, as well. He knows what's in front of him, he's been around. He's a good pro.
"He'll have to kind of figure out for himself how to get dialed in each day so that come next Monday he's at where he feels is 100 percent dialed in. Which, like I said, I don't even know if he'll have an easy answer for that either. It is what it is. You're off, so you're going to lose a bit of sharpness."
A longer break has historically not worked in favor of teams during the Stanley Cup Final — with 10 of the last 13 victors standing as clubs that had the shorter turnaround coming out of the conference final.
One of the primary factors in the misfortunes of teams coming out of a longer break in the Cup Final?
A drastic production drop in net.
Over the last eight Stanley Cup Finals, only two times has the team with the longer break ended up winning it all (2012 Kings, 2015 Blackhawks).
In the other six instances, the more well-rested club came up short — with San Jose’s Martin Jones (.919 save percentage through first three rounds of the 2016 Playoffs, .932 save percentage in 2016 Stanley Cup Final) standing as the lone goalie for the losing team that actually saw his numbers rise during the climactic series.
The rest, well, don’t inspire much confidence:
2018 - Marc-Andre Fleury - Vegas Golden Knights
- First 3 Rounds: 12-3-0 / .947 save percentage / 4 shutouts
- Stanley Cup Final: 1-4-0 / .853 save percentage
2017 -
Pekka Rinne
- Nashville Predators
- First 3 Rounds: 12-4-0 / .941 save percentage / 2 shutouts
- Stanley Cup Final: 2-4-0 / .888 save percentage
2014 -
Henrik Lundqvist
- New York Rangers
- First 3 Rounds: 12-7-0 / .928 save percentage / 1 shutout
- Stanley Cup Final: 1-4-0 / .923 save percentage
2013 -
Tuukka Rask
- Boston Bruins
- First 3 Rounds: 12-4-0 / .943 save percentage / 2 shutouts
- Stanley Cup Final: 2-4-0 / .932 save percentage
2011 -
Roberto Luongo
- Vancouver Canucks
- First 3 Rounds: 12-6-0 / .922 save percentage / 2 shutouts
- Stanley Cup Final: 3-4-0 / .891 save percentage
Not exactly what you want to see if you’re a Bruins fan — especially with Rask in the midst of a longer layoff than all of these other goalies. Unsurprisingly, Rask isn’t dwelling too much on the risk that comes with so much time off.
"It's only as big of a challenge as you make it for yourself," Rask said. "Practice when we practice and then take time off when there's a day off. I think that's it. I don't think about hockey every day, all day. I don't think that's gonna do any good. Just stay sharp on the ice, do the work you need to do, and play when the puck drops."
Rask was in a bit of a similar position earlier this year when it comes to a long break from game action — as he sustained a concussion against the New York Rangers back on Jan. 19 at TD Garden. Rask did not play again until Jan. 31, with the NHL’s mandated bye week sandwiched in between his recovery efforts.
That didn’t seem to hinder him too much — as Rask did not lose in regulation over his next 12 appearances, posting a .923 save percentage and a pair of shutouts. There’s still plenty of concern for how the Bruins will look once the puck is dropped on Monday, but Rask isn’t sweating it.
“It was awesome to go away with the family and sit by the beach," Rask said of his time off in January. "I didn't do that this time. Like I said, it's only as tough as you make it for yourself. You just kind of take time off and unwind and kind of refocus when there's time to refocus.
“But I played a lot of hockey in my career, so I think that helps. It kind of helps to stay even-keel. You screw yourself mentally if you're overthinking everything and you just kind of let things play out, and when it's time to play hockey, you play hockey. That's about it."
B’s set to hold scrimmage
One way in which the Bruins are set to counter this extended break? Simulating an actual game with an intrasquad scrimmage on Thursday night at TD Garden. The matchup will see the Bruins and Black Aces split into two teams — Team White and Team Black — and will be comprised of a pair of 25-minute periods of play, with two referees on the ice to officiate play.
“Listen, at the end of the day, I don’t know how everything is going to play out until Game 1 happens. We had some ideas … and came up with this one,” Cassidy said. “It will be live, to a certain extent. We’ll obviously talk to the players about the physicality part. We’re looking for compete and we’re looking for pace. We’re not looking for guys to blow each other up, so we’re starting to get back into it.
“We’ve had good practices, but this one will be a little bit different. Look at some different scenarios in game, so it will be controlled in terms of power play — could be a six-on-five to end the game or scrimmage, no matter what the score is. Four-on-four play, try to come up with some different things to keep the players sharp.”
Cassidy added: “We’re going to try to have it simulate a checking line versus a top line. We’ll still sort through the final — they’ll be three lines on each team. We’re going to use the Providence guys. Actually a great stage for them — haven’t seen some of them in a while. ... Who gets rested in this, does Tuukka need to play the whole thing? Those are things that will be players’ decisions themselves. (
Zdeno Chara
), see where he’s at — he looks fine.”
JFK heads to Sweden
After an up-and-down season of pro hockey, Bruins prospect
Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson
is set to head home. The Bruins announced that the 22-year-old center has
decided to return to Sweden and plans to sign a contract to play for Vaxjo of the Swedish Hockey League next season.
Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson is heading back to Sweden. (Photo by Adam Bow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
"Jakob will continue his professional hockey career and development in the SHL and we support his decision to be closer to his family at this time in his life,"
Don Sweeney
said. "Over the past few weeks, Jakob has also communicated that he fully intends to resume playing for the Bruins, but for right now he feels playing at home in Sweden is what is best for him."
Forsbacka Karlsson had numerous opportunities to seize the vacant third-line center spot in the Bruins’ lineup coming out of training camp, but failed to gain much traction throughout the year.
Over 28 games, “JFK” tallied three goals and added six assists up with the Bruins, while adding 16 points over 28 games down in Providence. The BU product still has potential, although he has largely failed to live up to some lofty expectations that were placed upon him after he signed his entry-level contract with Boston back in 2017.
Perhaps some time back home will help the pivot get back on track, as Boston still retains his rights if he decides to return to North America.
