NHL Buzz: Rask starts in return for Bruins against Islanders

Welcome to the NHL Buzz. Throughout the 2020-21 season, NHL.com will have you covered with the latest news.

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Boston Bruins

Tuukka Rask started in his return to the lineup against the New York Islanders on Thursday.
"It kind of puts us at ease a little bit," forward Brad Marchand said. "He's been one of the best goalies in the last decade in this league and when he's in the net for a game, we have an opportunity to win every single night, especially in crunch time where we need him. … He's always been so good at that in the past and we're excited to have him back."
Rask hadn't played since he was removed after the first period of a 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders on March 25 because of an upper-body injury. It was his first game since he grabbed his back in a game against the New Jersey Devils on March 7.
Rask is 8-4-2 with a 2.40 GAA and .907 save percentage in 15 games this season.
Rookies Jeremy Swayman and
Dan Vladar
had started the previous six games for Boston with backup
Jaroslav Halak
having been in NHL COVID-19 protocol since April 5.
"[Rask] has practiced now for a while with us with no setbacks, so that's obviously a positive," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "But until he gets through the game action, we just don't know."
The Bruins (22-12-6) are fourth in the eight-team MassMutual East Division, four points ahead of the New York Rangers. The top four teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. -- Amalie Benjamin

Tampa Bay Lightning

Steven Stamkos will not play against the Florida Panthers on Thursday and Saturday because of an undisclosed injury.
"I don't anticipate him probably for the rest of the week," coach Jon Cooper said. "We'll get our guys here to work with him a little bit and go from there. He won't [play] in the Florida series."
The Lightning captain was injured in the third period of a 6-4 win at the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 8 and did not play in the final two games of the road trip at the Nashville Predators on Saturday and Tuesday. He also missed two games in February with a lower-body injury.
Stamkos has scored 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) in 38 games this season is tied with center Brayden Point for the team lead in goals.
The Lightning (28-12-2) are tied for first in the eight-team Discover Central Division with the Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes. The top four teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. -- Corey Long

Dallas Stars

Tyler Seguin skated with the main group for the first time since having right hip labral repair on Nov. 2.
Seguin was expected to be sidelined for at least four months, and general manager Jim Nill said Monday the center could return to the lineup in two weeks.
"He looked good," coach Rick Bowness said Thursday. "This is the next stage of getting him back with the team. Just talking to him before practice, he enjoyed being around the guys, having breakfast with the guys, the kibitzing that goes on in the locker room. You miss that when you're skating by yourself every day. He participated in the drills and looked good. We need to get him back as quick as we possibly can. We won't put him back until we know he's ready, but this is a big step forward in getting him ready to play."
Seguin led the Stars with 50 points (17 goals, 33 assists) in 69 games last season.
Forward Alexander Radulov (core muscle procedure) and goalie Ben Bishop (knee injury) each is out for the season.
Dallas (15-14-12) is sixth in the Central, seven points behind the fourth-place Nashville Predators. -- Tracey Myers

Montreal Canadiens

Carey Price skated for the first time on Wednesday since he aggravated a lower-body injury April 5.
The goalie practiced on his own in Brossard, Quebec, and did not take part in the morning skate. He did not dress for a fifth straight game when Montreal lost to the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Wednesday.
"It went well, but I don't have a lot of details," coach Dominique Ducharme said.
Joel Armia played for the first time since March 20 in the loss to the Flames. The forward, who missed eight games because of NHL COVID-19 protocol, had three shots on goal and three hits in 13:37 of ice time.
"I'm really happy. The first day I came to the rink I think I had a smile on my face the whole day, so it's really good to be back," Armia said before the game. "The first four or five days I had some little symptoms, some body aches, but nothing too crazy. So for the most part I felt good." -- Sean Farrell