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Return of “Tuukka Time": Tuukka Rask to see more starts this season in Boston

Tuukka Rask

Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, of Finland, makes a block on a shot by New Jersey Devils center David Clarkson in the second period of an NHL hockey game on Sunday, April 10, 2011, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

AP

Two seasons ago, Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask became a sensation in Boston with his stellar play and wild antics in goal. Playing as a feisty loose cannon in goal that makes a ton of saves and wins games will make you a favorite in any city, but in Boston “Tuukka Time” took on a life of its own.

Last season, Rask figured to continue his career onward and upward as Tim Thomas was coming back after a rough season and surgery. Thomas, of course, then went on to have one of the best seasons by a goalie in years winning the Vezina and Conn Smythe trophies and leading the Bruins to the Stanley Cup all while Rask took a backseat playing in just 29 games last season.

With Thomas a year older and coming off a season that saw him play 82 games through the regular season and playoffs, “Tuukka Time” is going to make a huge comeback this season. CSNNE.com’s Joe Haggerty has the details from Bruins coach Claude Julien about how Tuukka Rask will help keep Tim Thomas better rested this season.

“I think it’s pretty obvious that Tuukka has to take a bit of a bigger bite this year. That’s not a secret and don’t plan on making that a secret,” said Julien. “Tim is a great goaltender, but Tim is a goaltender that understands that he can’t play 70 plus games in the regular season. He’s had a long playoffs and I think Tim is going to be just as happy as we are to have Tuukka here and paying some of his best hockey.

“I liked [Rask’s] practice today, I thought Tuukka looked sharp and he came in great shape, so hopefully he’s ready to take on that load. We’ll certainly make sure that we share [the goaltending workload]. You just want to make sure you keep your goaltenders as sharp as you can and Tim had such an outstanding year last year. We’d love to see him duplicate it, but he might be able to duplicate with some help from Tuukka by keeping him as fresh as we can.”


Thomas’ stellar season last year is one that would be awfully tough to replicate and expecting him to do that is asking the impossible. The kind of work he did last year, especially in playing a full season schedule’s worth of games when it was all said and done, is the stuff of legends. It also means you can’t bank on that happening again, especially for a guy who is 37 years-old.

Rask is the heir to the throne eventually in Boston and after a rookie season that saw him play so well, the Bruins have no reasons to worry about how he’ll handle himself in goal. While he didn’t see much action last year, he’s more than capable of getting it done. Julien already saying he’ll be calling his number more often shows their confidence in him. Rask can help the Bruins win games and, more importantly, he can make sure Boston doesn’t miss a beat while Thomas gets a breather to help him be rested for a playoff run.

Let’s just hope Bruins fans can remember their “Tuukka” call for when he does get the call.