How does Bruins rotation in net shake out with Tuukka Rask returning?

Injuries, COVID complications and general underperformance from some key cogs have been the primary culprits that scuttled the Bruins for most of the last month, but for all of the many fires that Bruce Cassidy and his staff have had to put out as of late — goaltending hasn't been one of them.

It's been a huge break for a Bruins team which hasn't been afforded many of them so far in 2021. The play of both Jeremy Swayman and Dan Vladar has helped keep Boston afloat despite soldiering on without both Tuukka Rask for most of six weeks with an upper-body injury — and Jaroslav Halak, who is in the midst of his second week on the NHL's COVID-19 Protocol list.

Swayman, who wasn't even expected to make a legitimate push up to the NHL ranks in 2021 after getting just nine games of pro hockey under his belt in Providence, has been spectacular in his first foray with Boston — winning three of his four starts and posting a .926 save percentage. Vladar's save percentage has been severely skewed after the Capitals obliterated Boston and the AHL-level defense anchoring them on Sunday, but the 23-year-old goalie has also helped Boston to secure points in three of his five starts so far in 2021.

Of course, while Boston has been buoyed by the play of what could be their goalie tandem of the future in Swayman/Vladar, the ceiling of this B's club and just how far they can carry this campaign into June and July will hinge on the health of Rask — and just what the veteran goalie can give them down the stretch.

Boston will get its first look at that crucial factor on Thursday against the Islanders, with Rask set to make his return between the pipes after missing 17 of his last 18 games.

"I don't know that I can sit here unequivocally and say, 'Yeah, he's dealt with the rigors of battling through, finding pucks, traffic," Cassidy said of Rask's readiness "That's the physical part of being a goaltender. That's something we're just gonna have to find out on the fly here. As for stopping the puck, technically, all that stuff, he's fine, he's good. He has practiced now for a while with us with no setbacks. Until he gets through the game action, we just don't know. Tonight will be his first test."

Given both the nature of Rask's injury — one that could set all parties back to square one with just the wrong lunge or pull from the netminder — and his stronger numbers when entering the postseason with oodles of rest, one might think that the preferred course for Cassidy and the Bruins is to take a slow-and-steady approach with their top goalie down the stretch. However, with just 16 games left on the regular-season docket before the playoffs get underway, Boston needs to get Rask back up to speed and playing at a high level.

... and incorporate Halak back into the rotation whenever he does get cleared from COVID protocols ...

... and be cognizant of Swayman's strong play over the last few weeks.

Far from an easy balancing act, to say the least.



“Obviously with only so many games left, Tuukka -- he’s been out a while," Cassidy said. "It’s not a switch. I don’t care who you are or what position you play, you need reps. Very few guys can just jump back in there after missing time. I think Tuukka’s going to need his share. So as far as the rest part, obviously that depends on his play and how does he feel. Where’s he at physically, but how is his timing most importantly?  So those are some things we have to look at as we go along. It’s hard for me to answer now. Obviously knowing that Swayman and Vladdy have been good for us, given us a chance to win, and there’s Jaro.

"He’s been off for a while now, too. Where is his timing going to be?  So it’s going to be tough to get them all their reps and starts in how many games we have left. And then it’s a matter of, we’re still in a playoff fight here, so we have to play the guy who gives us the best chance to win. So we’re going to balance all of that stuff going forward. But the most important one for us right now is what’s in front of us. That’s Tuukka’s next start. ... Hopefully we play well in front of him and he gets back in a rhythm.”

Barring injury or just outright disaster in terms of performance, Rask is and should remain as the B's No. 1 netminder. No, we're not having *that type of debate* at this juncture — and especially not in this column. But the conversation does get a bit more interesting behind Rask on Boston's depth chart.

While common sense would seem to signal that Cassidy will roll with his regular tandem in net in Rask/Halak once all parties are healthy, Swayman is making a case for more looks even after Halak returns. You could make the argument that Swayman has fared much better than Halak even before the veteran goalie entered COVID-19 protocols — with Halak going 3-3-1 with an .887 save percentage over his last seven games.

“He certainly looks composed, has been composed,” Cassidy said of Swayman, adding: "That’s another game (on Tuesday) where you stop the ones you’re supposed to, make a few extra saves, timely saves, and give your team a chance to win, and he did that very well. Not too busy in the third, but a good slot shot save, shootout saves. So yes, to answer your question (about if Swayman could get more looks). Let’s keep in mind that I don’t have a crystal ball.

"I don’t know what’s going to happen in three weeks. I don’t know how Jaro’s going to recover once he’s off the COVID list. How’s Tuukka’s time off going to treat him? Is it going to treat him well, where the time has done him good and he finds his game quickly? Or is it going to take a while? So there’s a lot of questions that go into it. But we haven’t ruled (Swayman) out as being a guy who could see some extra starts that we didn’t anticipate. That’s just performance-related.”

Of course, it's one thing to incorporate Swayman into more regular-season games over the final month of the season, and another to potentially slot him in as Boston's backup come the postseason. But with so much uncertainty surrounding both Rask and Halak — it's far from a lock that a Rask/Halak tandem will be solidified come the start of the playoffs. As Cassidy said, there is no crystal ball available to the B's when it comes to mapping out the situation in net moving forward, but the play of Swayman is certainly making things a bit more interesting for the club.