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Boston Bruins: Tuukka Rask needs to start strong in 2018-19

By Sam Minton

OTTAWA, ON - APRIL 21: Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins stretches to make a pad save against the Ottawa Senators in the 1st overtime period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on April 21, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - APRIL 21: Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins stretches to make a pad save against the Ottawa Senators in the 1st overtime period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on April 21, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /
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After a rough start last year, Boston Bruins fans are hoping that Tuukka Rask can get off to a hot start this season.

Tuukka Rask has to do one simple thing. If Rask can get off to a good start this season, the Boston Bruins will be in great shape to make a playoff run.

Last season we saw Rask stumble out of the gate. In Rask’s first 5 games he was 1-3-1, losing 4 games in a row. He was also giving up almost 3 goals a game.

The Bruins can’t afford to have Rask struggle once again. The Atlantic division is jammed pack this year. The Tampa Bay Lightning will surely be a top team once again, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have a stacked roster with John Tavares joining the team. Also, the Buffalo Sabres continue to improve and may surprise some people this season.

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Also, I expect head coach Bruce Cassidy to have a short leash with Rask. The Bruins acquired Jaroslav Halak who could very well start a few games in a row if Rask struggles. Anton Khudobin did it last season, and I think Halak is a much better goaltender.

The pressure is once again on Rask. There is not a more polarizing player in Boston. Fans either love him or want to trade him.

If Rask can get off to a hot start it will give him a strong foundation to build off for the rest of the season. A foundation that could propel the Bruins to a top spot in the Eastern Conference.

There is no doubt that the Bruins will score plenty of goals this season, but will the defense be up to par? At times last season, they made mistakes that lead to goals. If Rask can make some big saves and win some games for the Bruins they will have a good opportunity to make a run for the Stanley Cup.

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So it will be important to see how Tuukka Rask performs on Wednesday. If he struggles it could mean that the Bruins are in for a rough season, but if Rask and the B’s can stop the Capitals snipers, it could make for an interesting season for Bruins fans.

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