BOSTON - Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy estimated it would probably take eight games total before Tukka Rusk felt in rhythm and back to normal. With four more to go, it could be a bumpy ride.
Following Monday's 5-3 loss to Anaheim, Rusk has played four games since returning from off-season hip surgery. He is 2-2 on average with 3.87 goals and 84.4 savings percentage. It consists of a very good game, a solid game, a bad game (Monday), and a whole stinky game. If the next four turn out to be something like this, they could be expensive for the Bruins.
The Rask's scheduled tune-up game in the AHL on rival Providence Bruins was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Instead, he made his Boston debut and looked brilliant against the Flyers, setting an unrealistic standard for his opening game. He was terrible after five days in a period against Carolina before being drawn.
After settling in Saturday's win over Winnipeg, Monday was another step back as he conceded five goals. The Bruins' 18 skaters before him weren't great, but it was a winnable hockey game with few more to spare.
"He's not where he needs to be. We weren't sure he would be. I think he needs seven or eight starts," Cassidy said. "We didn't get the result we wanted. We definitely need some more savings if we want to win tonight. It will need more start, then we have to evaluate. ...he has to plow through it and get through the kinks in his game. The track puck is a little better."
Rask thought that at least part of the problem was technical mistakes, as opposed to any skill atrophy.
“It is my depth at times. I am too deep in the crease. I am giving too much net. Tracking the puck is not as fast as it should be,” he said. “It is going to come. I want to work on this. I've made some saves to show that it's still there, but I can't seem to score a bad goal or two in every game. ... The program is so tough that there isn't much time for practice. You can only do so much with a goalkeeper coach and a few people. The game situation is not easy to emulate. ,
The Bruins next set out on a three-game road trip, with the Rasks expected to play at least one game at home before facing an expansion to the Seattle Kraken on February 1. The Bruins will get to practice during a six-day break in early February.
If by Game 9, Rask is at or close to the elite level he has played for most of his career, it will probably all be worth it. His expected range is still higher than that of Linus Ulmark or Jeremy Swain. If he's good and the Bruins are set to be a Game 1 starter in the post season, no one will remember this rocky ramp-up.
But if the season ends on Monday night, the Bruins will be the second wild card of the Eastern Conference, with the team as the last. It is possible to capture the Maple Leafs for the No. 3 spot in the Atlantic Division or Capitals for the first wild card. But Boston's margin for error is limited. They can't leave points receivable on the bale.
Rask knows his ramp-up must be fast.
"The only way you can do it is by playing. We're in the middle of the season, we don't have the luxury of throwing games. Keep me out there trying to figure it out," Rusk said. Go on, I need to be faster every time. It's my job to find it. It's not easy. But I just have to work on it game and game and try to find that consistency and try to help the team get some wins. ,