Rask out for Bruins; Svedberg facing Devils

NEWARK, N.J. -- Goaltender Niklas Svedberg made his first start in seven games when the Boston Bruins played the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Friday.

Goaltender Tuukka Rask, who did not practice in the morning due to an illness, is scratched. The Bruins recalled Jeremy Smith from their American Hockey League affiliate in Providence to back up Svedberg.

Svedberg made 14 saves in a 3-0 victory against the Devils on Jan. 8, he last started Feb. 10. The Bruins are 14-3-0 in the past 17 games against the Devils; six of the past nine games have been decided by one goal.

The Bruins hold the second wild card into the Stanley CUp Playoffs from Eastern Conference but have lost seven of the past eight games (1-5-2). The Devils trailed the Bruins by eight points in the standings.

Rask played 18 straight games and started 16 of them. The Bruins are without forwards David Krejci (left knee) and Gregory Campbell (upper body).

Devils forward Scott Gomez was in the lineup. Gomez missed the morning skate with an illness but took warm-ups. Michael Ryder was a healthy scratch.