Boston Bruins G Tuukka Rask Believes Momentum Is Gone

When the NHL returns to game action at the end of July, it’ll officially be a continuation of the 2019-20 season. Although they will be known as the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, goaltender Tuukka Rask has a bit of a different viewpoint. The veteran goaltender spoke on Monday with the media via Zoom.

“It’s fun to be back playing, I guess, if that happens,” Rask told reporters. “The layoff has been so long that I think everybody starts at zero at this point, so I think our advantage that we might have had three months ago is gone.”

The Bruins, when the NHL went into ‘the pause’ due to COVID-19 in March, were the best team in the NHL. They held a record of 44-14-12 and had 100 points in the standings. They were eight points up on the Tampa Bay Lightning for the division lead, and six up on the St. Louis Blues for the President’s Trophy. The Bruins were officially awarded the President’s Trophy in the spring.

Even if the momentum is gone, a return to action still means something to Tuukka Rask.

“I think it’ll be exciting just to have some closure for the season. If they crown a champion, we’re definitely going to do whatever we can to be that team,” Rask said.

Rask has yet to skate during Phase 2 workouts, but he admitted that could change as early as tomorrow.

“I just got my latest testing done (Monday) for coronavirus. If that comes back a negative, I will skate Wednesday, and three days a week going from there,” Rask said. “Then we’ll see what happens with the training camp.”