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Rask downplays groin injury: “It is not that serious”

Tuukka Rask

Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, of Finland, watches the game-winning goal bounce out of the net by Buffalo Sabres’ Derek Roy, not shown, after a shootout in an NHL hockey game in Buffalo, N.Y., Friday, Feb. 24, 2012. The Sabres won 2-1. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

AP

Breathe easy, Bruins fans -- Tuukka Rask says he’s okay.

Shortly after news broke that Rask suffered a groin injury while playing for HC Plzen of the Czech league, Boston’s No. 1 netminder told local TV hockey analyst Roman Jedlicka the injury wasn’t severe.

“I slightly pulled my groin, it is not serious,” Rask explained. “I had groin problems last year so I took little rest just for precaution.”

So...that’s the good news.

The bad news, according to CSNNE’s Joe Haggerty, is that Rask continues to have groin issues:

That’s why Rask signed only a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Bruins this summer, and put himself in a position where he needed to prove he can be “the man” sturdy enough to start 55-60 games for the B’s.

The bad news: A groin twinge in Europe and mention of last year’s injuries is a bad first sign when groin woes tend to become chronic issues for goaltenders.

If Rask is already experiencing groin discomfort less than a month into a Czech League stint one has to wonder how much confidence they should have that the lithe goalie can remain healthy.

The other major concern is what’s behind Rask.

With Tim Thomas taking a leave of absence next season, Anton Khudobin is penciled in as the Bruins’ No. 2. The 26-year-old Russian has limited NHL experience (seven games) and is hardly a steadying veteran presence behind the 25-year-old Rask.