Tuukka Rask Will Start, Ritchie To Draw In On Wednesday

Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy spoke to the media on Tuesday following practice. Cassidy, after two hard practices following a 4-1 loss to the Flyers on Sunday, confirmed numerous lineup changes ahead of the team’s battle with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. Tuukka Rask will return and start, while Nick Ritchie also makes his return. Ritchie has been battling injury, while Rask was quarantined for two days with a cough.

“Tuukka’s scheduled to start,” Cassidy said when asked on Tuesday. “He’s had two good practice days, so assuming nothing happens tonight, he wakes up feeling good, he’ll get the start.”

Jaroslav Halak started on Sunday, with Dan Vlader serving as the backup. Tuukka Rask was strong again this season, posting a 26-8-6 record with a .929 save percentage and a 2.12 GAA. Rask is expected to be the team’s starter when the First Round opens next week.

Changes up front will be a theme on Wednesday as well. With Ritchie back, Cassidy is shuffling up his second and third lines in search of an offensive spark.

“Ritchie goes in,” Cassidy continued. “He’s going to play with Krejci and probably Kuhlman on the right. We’re going to play Bjork, Coyle and DeBrusk. Now we may move those wingers around, in game, but that’s how we’re going to start. That’s how they practiced today.”

The team’s other trade deadline acquisition, Ondrej Kase, also took reps on that line in practice on Tuesday. He won’t skate there on Wednesday, however. In fact, he won’t skate at all against the Lightning.

“Kase is back skating with the group, but we’re not gonna play him tomorrow,” Cassidy said. “He needs some more reps. We’ll target him for Sunday.”