Moments after the Bruins’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Capitals, Saturday, Tuukka Rask wasn’t ready to talk about his future beyond this season.
“I haven’t really thought about that. I just try to go game-by-game, series-by-series,” said the 34-year-old goalie, whose contract is up after this season. “I’ll see what the future brings after that. Obviously, there’s going to be some decisions to be made, but we’ll do that when the time is right. Right now I’m not thinking about that.”
But pushed about whether he was healthy enough to continue his career beyond this season, Rask gave a cryptic answer that will certainly invite interpretation.
“I’m not going to answer that right now. I’ll talk to you after the season,” Rask said. “You’ll find out.”
Rask missed most of March with an undisclosed upper-body injury. But other than a couple of stray bad games, he’s played well upon returning.
Whether or not he’s healthy, the Bruins will have to make a decision whether to sign him to another contract. He’s coming off an 8-year, $56 million dollar deal. Even he’s healthy, he won’t get another deal that long, but for an elite No. 1 goalie, a $7 million per year isn’t unrealistic. But with Taylor Hall and David Krejci also set to be free agents there are financial questions in play.
Rookie Jeremy Swayman thrived as a rookie, but it’s unclear if Boston is ready to make him their No. 1 goalie. His cap hit is only $925,000 for the next two seasons.
CASSIDY ON OFFENSE — Bruce Cassidy thought the Bruins seemed out of sync offensively.
“I honestly thought our top guys didn’t seem to have it. Couldn’t find ice. Give Washington credit (we) couldn’t escape pressure on the power play and find the open guys,” he said. “A lot of guys, who have been doing a lot of scoring for us, weren’t able to get to their game tonight or get the puck to cooperate or support each other well enough to generate enough offense. That’s not really typical from what we’ve seen from that group. Hopefully, in Game 2, they’re a little sharper.”
NO UPDATE ON VANECEK — Washington coach Peter Laviolette didn’t have an update on goalie Vitek Vanecek who left in the first period with an injury and didn’t plan on providing info when he knows more.
“We’ll go in tomorrow. We’ll assess everything, address everything and then probably give you nothing,” Laviolette said smiling.
Ilya Samsonov came off the COVID-19 list Saturday and could be available again soon.
Craig Anderson’s rise from third-string to winning playoff goalie isn’t unprecedented in this rivalry. This is not the first time Boston has faced an emergency Capitals goalie in the playoffs. In 2012 Braden Holtby was pressed into action with Thomas Vokoun hurt and Michael Neuvirth struggling. He helped lead the Capitals to a series win in seven games.
But Holtby was 22 and became Washington’s goalie of the future. Anderson turns 40 next week.
CHARA vs. BOSTON — Former Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who is in his first postseason with Washington, played 19:07 overall, the least ice time of any Washington defenseman. Of that total, 5:06 came with the Capitals shorthanded.
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