Need to Know: 2019 Winter Classic

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Bruce Cassidy toiled with the decision over the past few days, but ultimately announced on Monday that he has chosen to start Tuukka Rask between the pipes for Tuesday's 2019 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks. It will be Rask's 469th game with the Bruins, the most by a goaltender in franchise history.
It was not an easy choice for Cassidy, who also has Jaroslav Halak - the league's leader in save percentage at .928 - at his disposal. Rask got the start in Boston's overtime win in Buffalo on Saturday night, making 26 saves in the victory.

"Tough decision, obviously, the way Jaro's played," Cassidy said following Monday's practice at Notre Dame. "But [Tuukka] played well the other night. We're trying to get him some consecutive starts to get him feeling good about his game on a regular basis. I think it's been not as consistent, I think we'd all agree, as we'd like. So this is an opportunity for him to take another step.
"That's the biggest reason. I felt bad. I talked to Jaro today about it and he understands. Had a great first half for us, but that's the decision today. Hopefully it plays out well."

Halak, signed to a two-year contract in July, has played 22 games to Rask's 19 this season and, along with his league-leading save percentage, ranks fifth in goals against average (2.28) and second in shutouts (three). His performance has given Cassidy two goalies he can count on each and every night.
"When both are playing well you want to keep both sharp, so that's the biggest challenge," said Cassidy. "The schedule takes care of that sometimes. If you have four games in a week they're all gonna get the net. When you don't, it gets a little tougher. Reading when one needs a break, [goalie coach Bob Essensa], that's kind of his area of expertise.
"I think the biggest challenge is just keeping them both competitive when you only have one net. There's not a great answer there. Hopefully they're in and they're ready to go."
Cassidy said he never seriously contemplated splitting up the goaltending duties on New Year's Day.
"I told Jaro that. I said, 'It would be nice if I could split you.' But is that realistic? Probably not," said Cassidy. "If Jaro gets in it means it probably didn't go well for Tuukka, right? So we don't like to think that. Obviously we expect to go out and play well, the team play well in front of him.
"Maybe there's some strange circumstance he's able to get in and at least be a part of it. But I hope Tuukka's there start to finish playing well."

Marchand Looks Good

Brad Marchand practiced for the second straight day after missing Saturday night's game in Buffalo with an upper-body injury and "looks good to go" for the Winter Classic, according to Cassidy.
"Obviously we'll still probably call it a game-time decision, but he made it through practice today. It wasn't a long one. No ill effects that I've heard of yet, so looks good," said Cassidy.

McAvoy Out

Charlie McAvoy, meanwhile, did not practice on Monday and was ruled out for the Winter Classic. Cassidy is hopeful that McAvoy, who has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, is healthy enough to play on Thursday against Calgary at TD Garden.
"Charlie didn't skate, so safe to say we'll rule him out for tomorrow and hopefully he's ready to go," said Cassidy. "We're home Thursday, so that would be the next target date for him. But again, until he gets on the ice, it's always tough to say a guy will be ready, so that's the next step for him."

Backes Banned

The Bruins will also be without David Backes for the Winter Classic after the veteran forward was suspended three games for an illegal check to the head on New Jersey's Blake Coleman last Thursday. Cassidy said it appears that the 34-year-old, who is still able to practice with the team, is in good spirits, despite the disappointment of missing what would have been his first NHL outdoor game.
"I'm sure he's disappointed he's not playing in the game [Tuesday]," said Cassidy. "Seems to be in good spirits. He was out with his [kids] today, skating and having a good time. So he's taking in the moment. [Tuesday] at 1 o'clock, and he's not out there, probably will hit the most, the hardest, that he's not able to play. But he'll be back. It's only three games, so one down, two to go."

Opposing View

The Bruins and Blackhawks will be meeting for the first time this season. Like the Bruins, Chicago enters the game off an exciting 3-2, overtime win on Saturday. Patrick Kane, who was named the NHL's First Star of the Week on Monday, notched his second of the game to win it for the Blackhawks in Colorado.
Chicago has struggled this season - sitting 9 points out of a playoff spot in the West - but enters the game with two straight victories and six wins in their last 10 games. The Blackhawks also have a bit of a new look after acquiring forward Drake Caggiula and defenseman Jason Garrison from Edmonton in exchange for defensemen Brandon Manning and Robin Norell on Sunday.
Kane paces Chicago with 22 goals and 50 points this season, while captain Jonathan Toews is second in scoring with 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists).
Veteran netminder Cam Ward will make the start in goal for the Blackhawks on Tuesday.

Tuesday's Practice Lineup

Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk - David Krejci - Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson
Danton Heinen - Sean Kuraly - Chris Wagner
Joakim Nordstrom - Colby Cave - Noel Acciari/Ryan Donato
David Backes
Zdeno Chara - Brandon Carlo
Torey Krug - John Moore
Matt Grzelcyk - Kevan Miller
Steven Kampfer
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak