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Bruins lose Tuukka Rask, lose to Rangers |
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This was not how the Bruins wanted to head into their bye week.
In Saturday's 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers, goalie Tuukka Rask suffered a concussion after a big collision with Filip Chytil in front of the Bruins goal. Chytil was able to score on the play, tying the game at one.
With the way injuries have gone for the Bruins this season, head coach Bruce Cassidy is crossing his fingers when it comes to Rask.
"He’s concussed. That’s all I know, so he’ll go into protocol. The best-case scenario for those is usually the next day if he’s doing well. Then he’s up and running and it shouldn’t be too badly affected by it other than the immediate, today’s kind of pain and symptoms," said Cassidy.
"If he’s not, then it’s one of those where you just keep your fingers crossed and hope it settles itself out quickly."
Regardless of how Rask feels when he wakes up Sunday morning, Rask and the Bruins will have plenty of time to rest, as the team's bye week, combined with the All-Star break, comes at the perfect time. The Bruins won't return to action until Tuesday, December 29.
"Well, the timing, listen, let’s take – because somehow, I don’t want this to come out of context, but the timing is probably the best it’s ever going to be, right? If you’re going to have this injury because you do have nine days before you play again, so for any player. But there is no good timing, having said that, because who knows how it’ll play out for him," added Cassidy."
Cassidy didn't seem to have much issue with the play that injured Rask, nothing more than an unfortunate accident.
"I don’t think there’s intent to hit the goalie. I think that’s rare. There’s probably a player or two that tries not to get out of the way, for sure," said Cassidy. "I don’t think this kid tried to hit him. I think he did hit him."
After a shaky start to the season, Rask has been playing his best hockey of late. Rask has gone 5-0-1 in January, with a 1.75 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage.
Rask's injury overshadowed what was a good hockey game between two original six rivals.
Danton Heinen and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson together won a puck battle, moved the puck around, leading to Heinen scoring his sixth goal of the season, a goal that gave the Bruins the first goal of the game.
"Yeah I thought that we battled hard tonight. I think that’s something we are focusing on as young guys is win our battles and when we do that, I think we get the puck more," said Heinen. "You saw JFK [Forsbacka Karlsson] win a battle there and find me so it was a good job by him."
After the Rangers took a 2-1 lead, behind Chytil's tally and Mika Zibanejad's 16th of the season, the Bruins erased the lead, bouncing back with a Brad Marchand tally, but that was the last one the Bruins would get.
The power play continued to be a sore sport for the Bruins, as they failed to score on five power play attempts.
After tying Tiny Thompson for most goalie wins in franchise history on Thursday, Rask will have to wait a little longer to finally pass Thompson.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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