Tuesday’s 3-0 shutout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets could be a defining blow to the Bruins who lost their number one goaltender Tuukka Rask to a concussion. The incident, which occurred just 1:12 into the first period, resulted from an elbow to the side of the head by Columbus’ Emil Bernstrom. For Rask it was the second concussion in less than a year, having been the recipient of a collision with the Rangers Filip Chytil, resulting in a concussion that caused him to miss playing in the 2019 NHL All-Star Game. This year’s injury mirrors that unfortunate incident, as for the second year in a row, Rask will likely miss the NHL All-Star Game.
The Bruins schedule continues with a visit tonight (Thursday 7:00pm) at TD Garden from the streaking Pittsburgh Penguins (8-1-1), and Sidney Crosby, who returned to their lineup Tuesday and registered four points. The second half of this home-and-home series with Pittsburgh will have the Penguins hosting a 12:30 Sunday matinee with Boston. The Vegas Golden Knights will be on TD Garden ice (Tuesday 7:00pm), as the NHL heads into the All-Star break.
Bruins goaltenders Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak and defenseman Zdeno Chara will each be honored in upcoming pregame ceremonies for reaching their respective career milestones. Rask’s achievement of playing 500 career games will be celebrated tonight, Thursday, January 16, prior to the Bruins-Penguins game. Rask reached the 500-game milestone on October 23, 2019 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team that drafted him 21st overall in 2005. The 6-foot-3, 176-pound goaltender made 28 saves to earn his 269th career win and become the 72nd goaltender in National Hockey League history to appear in 500 games.
Halak will also be honored for playing 500 career games in a pregame ceremony on Tuesday, January 21, prior to the Bruins-Golden Knights game. Halak reached the 500-game milestone on December 3, 2019, when he made 24 saves for a 2-0 shutout of the Carolina Hurricanes at TD Garden. The game marked his 49th career shutout and 261st win while making him the 74th goaltender in National Hockey League history to appear in 500 career games.
On Saturday, February 8, captain Zdeno Chara will be recognized for playing in his 1,500th career game and 1,000th game as a Bruin in a pregame ceremony prior to the Bruins-Coyotes game. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound defenseman played in his 1,500th career game on November 5, 2019 against the Montreal Canadiens and reached his 1,000th game as a Bruin on January 13, 2020 against the Philadelphia Flyers. Chara currently ranks 18th all-time in games played (1,530) and is just the sixth player in franchise history to play 1,000 games with Boston.