Bruins’ Rask loses his blade, loses his mind as it gives Lightning easy goal

Tuukka Rask lost his skate blade and the Tampa Bay Lightning scored a controversial goal. In one of hockey’s great “gifable” moments, the Boston Bruins’ netminder flipped out. Here’s why.

The Boston Bruins were leading the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 3-1 when Jake DeBrusk took a penalty for interference against Anton Stralman. There’s little doubt that the task at hand — defending one of the best power play units in the league — would not be an easy one. That said, the Bruins have some of the NHL’s best penalty kill numbers for a reason.

Business as usual, right?

Think again.

Soon after the power play began, it became clear that something wasn’t right with Boston’s netminder, Tuukka Rask. Notorious for occasional emotional outbursts, Rask started frantically signalling for the attention of referees and linesmen alike.

While this brief period of disarray transpired, Tampa’s Mikhail Sergachev fired home a point shot that found its way to the back of the Bruins’ net. Boston’s lead was reduced to just one goal. As the Bolts celebrated, Rask hobbled toward a cluster of of officials, angrily demanding an explanation.

To the occasional hockey fan, this may have looked like nothing more than Rask’s temper getting the best of him.

But here’s the catch — Rask had every reason to be upset, as he clutched the blade of one of his skates in the palm of his hand. In typical Rask fashion, the Bruins’ goaltender did not hesitate to hide his overarching sense of frustration. The brief chaos that ensued after the controversial goal will surely serve as one of hockey’s great “gifable” moments, as Rask went on to whip the razor piece into open ice.

To the dismay of many a Bruins fan, the NHL’s rules do not account for circumstances in which a goaltender loses the blade of his skate. Had Rask’s mask been dislodged, the play would have been blown dead. Of course, this does not change the fact that the Bruins will feel as if they were robbed of a more comfortable lead.

The NHL has since commented on the matter.

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Was Tampa’s goal an unwarranted steal? Or is this just part of the game?

You be the judge.

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