Rask/By S. Bradley
BOSTON — Tuukka Rask left the TD Garden ice this morning about 30 seconds before Tim Thomas after the club’s morning skate.
Typically the first goalie off is that night’s starter, but head coach Claude Julien refused to tip his hand some 7 1/2 hours until puck drop on the home-opener against Washington.
“We’ll see at 7 o’clock,” Julien said after the morning skate.
Thomas has started and won the last three games for the Bruins, including Tuesday night’s win over Washington. Julien also confirmed that when it comes time for him to pick a goaltender, Thomas’ surgically repaired hip is no longer a factor. The Bruins had monitored Thomas’ recovering during the preseason.
Rask sounded ready to face the Caps, if he in fact gets the nod.
“Yeah, [I'm rested] as far as games go,” Rask said. “Obviously, the Europe trip was kind of tiring in some parts. But we had a couple days off after that. I’ve just really been working hard every day and nothing has changed really from training camp, so I feel kind of the same.”
•The same four forward lines from Tuesday skated in the morning skate. Expect Adam McQuaid, Daniel Paille and Brian McGrattan to again be the healthy scratches based on how much longer they stayed out on the ice for extra work.
Washington’s NHL site is claiming Tuuka is starting.
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Opinions always welcome here. Unlike the Herald comment section.
The best part about the decision is that I am fine with it, as long as whoever does not play tonight, plays against the Rangers.
I think that goal, more importantly that third period, bought Hunwick another game.
I have been seeing that third line lately. Not on the scoring sheet, but I have still noticed them.
Ryder is checking, Caron is in front of the net, and Seguin is getting to loose pucks that noone else would be able to get to.
3-1 allows them time to see if it works.
I am looking forward to tonight.
I’d go with Rask tonight, just to switch up the style that the Caps have to face/maybe haven’t prepared for. But, I’m here at my desk making money NOT making hockey decisions so……
Timmy has looked good this season so far and it’s nice to see after so many were ready to throw him under the bus. Looks like the repaired hip is responding nicely.
1. I would start TT tonight and Rask v. NYR. Tonight is an important game down the road.
2. I would play McQuaid over Hunwick, notwithstanding Hunwick’s 1 period resurgance. He has basically played 3-4 good periods out of 16. McQuaid deserves a shot to play at this point.
3. I would shuffle the lines to get some scoring. I would keep the HULK line, obviously, but I would put Recchi, Bergeron and Seguin on the same line, with Seguin at wing. My third line would be Wheeler centering Ryder and Caron. Fourth line stays the same. They must get a second line scoring for when they play a real defensive team, read: not the Caps
4. I haven’t looked at the very latest practice report, but my first PP unit would be the HULK line plus Chara and Bergeron at the points. Second unit has Boychuck and Seidenburg, with Seguin, Ryder and Wheeler up front. That’s just me.
5. Chara may play 32 minutes tonight. Then, going forward, they MUST limit his minutes to less than 25. We are trying to win the cup, not just the division.