Tuukkka Rask is heading home.
The Boston Bruins’ starting goaltender announced on Saturday morning through the team that he’s leaving the bubble.
The news comes as the Bruins and Hurricanes are tied 1-1 in their first-round series. Game Three is Saturday at noon.
#NHLBruins goalie Tuukka Rask has opted out of the NHL's Return to Play: pic.twitter.com/r3c7wjaTwR
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) August 15, 2020
The full statement reads:
A statement from Tuukka Rask
I want to be with my teammates competing, but at this moment there are things more important than hockey in my life and that is being with my family.
I want to thank the Bruins and my teammates for their support and wish them success
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney showed support to Rask during a hastily arranged press conference this morning.
Don Sweeney says the Boston Bruins "understand completely where Tuukka's coming from." He called it a difficult one for the goaltender to make.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) August 15, 2020
Rask’s decision comes after critical comments he made about the atmosphere of games inside the bubble.
“Well, to be honest with you, it doesn’t really feel like playoff hockey out there,” Rask said. “There’s no fans. So it’s kinda like playing an exhibition game.”
"It doesn't really feel like playoff hockey out there. There's no fans so it's kinda like playing an exhibition game." – Tuukka Rask #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/tssswR6EbE
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 14, 2020
Rask was not a part of the Bruins’ optional practice on Friday. Jaroslav Halak will become the starter moving forward.
It's an optional #NHLBruins practice this afternoon in Toronto:
Bjork
Frederic
Kuhlman
Lindholm
Ritchie
Senyshyn
StudnickaChara
Clifton
Lauzon
Moore
Vaakanainen
ZborilHalak
Lagace
Vladar pic.twitter.com/QNdV2PkMiU— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) August 14, 2020
Rask and his wife, Jasmiina, had their third daughter, Livia, in late April.
🎥 @tuukkarask joined the media this morning to talk about the NHL's pause and more: "It’s uncertain times for the whole world now and I don’t think it’s any different for sports. We just have to play it out as it happens." pic.twitter.com/hCYgzC2ERB
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) May 11, 2020
Sweeney cited Rask being away from his family as a challenge for Rask.
Sweeney mentioned that Rask has a newborn at home, plus two other young children, and that put a mental strain on him.
Understandably so.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) August 15, 2020
Rask won the Stanley Cup in 2011 as the Bruins backup and was named the Vezina Trophy winner in 2014.
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