Bruins' Rask: 'Health is not as good as I want it to be'

Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) stops a shot by the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask: 'Health is not as good as I want it to be'

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 5/28/21

Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask has been one of the best netminders of the Stanley Cup Playoffs thus far, posting a 1.81 goals-against average and .941 save percentage in five starts.

Although the 34-year-old is performing at a high level, he admitted during an appearance on WEEI's "The Greg Hill Show" that his health isn't at 100%.

Tuukka Rask just gave us an update on his health @TheGregHillShow: "Health is ok. I've been playing... [health is] not as good as I want it to be, but I've been playing and practicing, that's all that matters"
— Ken Laird (@KenLairdWEEI) May 28, 2021

Rask missed about one month earlier this season due to a suspected back injury. When he returned for a game against the New York Islanders in March, he suffered an upper-body injury and missed even more time.

The former Vezina Trophy winner will certainly start Boston's second-round series against the Islanders, but rookie netminder Jeremy Swayman will get the call if he suffers another injury.

Swayman won the backup job after Jaroslav Halak missed time due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Rask will be a free agent after the 2020-21 season, and he hasn't yet begun contract talks with the Bruins. The two sides expect to discuss a new deal after the playoffs.

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