Rask is an uncertain case for Game 6 against the Islanders

Tuukka Rask is an uncertain case for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Playoff Round 2 against the New York Islanders on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, CBC, SN, NBCSN).

« He will have his treatments, we’ll see how he’s doing tomorrow and we’ll know if he’ll be able to play or not, » Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said on Tuesday.

The Bruins goaltender is dealing with what Cassidy called « recurring » injuries and was called out of Game 5 early in the third period on Monday after allowing four goals on 16 shots. Jeremy swayman replaced Rask in the third engagement in the Bruins’ 5-4 loss.

The Bruins are trailing 3-2 in a four-of-seven series.

« I’m not going to question that decision, » Cassidy said of removing Rask from the game. “We think this decision was the right one. We’re moving on and we’ll see who gets the start for Game 6. ”

After Game 5 Cassidy suggested that Rask could play Game 6. But Rask’s availability is now in question.

“There are some things that are going to stay internally,” Cassidy said of the possibility that Rask might not be in Game 6. “We took a number of things into consideration. First and foremost, we are happy with its performance. He was better than yesterday, but we weren’t good enough in front of him, let’s face it.

“We are not dissatisfied with Tuukka’s game. He has injuries. We know he missed some action this year. We’re not going to go into the details of where he is with his injury and how it affects his game. He has played a lot of games in a row. At some point, that could become a problem in the playoffs. There are several things that come into play. « 

Rask missed six games after showing signs of back pain at the end of a game against the New Jersey Devils on March 7. He returned to play for a period against the Islanders on March 25, then missed 11 more games.

He returned to play on April 15 and is 7-1-0 with a 2.07 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and two shutouts in his last nine starts. In 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games, he’s 6-3 with a 2.20 GPA and .925 percentage point.

If Rask can’t play, the Bruins will likely turn to Swayman, a 22-year-old rookie who made two saves on three shots in his playoff debut.

Swayman went 7-3-0 with a 1.50 average, .945 percentage and two shutouts in 10 regular-season games, as he supplanted the veteran Jaroslav halak in the hierarchy of the organization.

Prior to Monday, Swayman hadn’t played since May 11, in Boston’s last regular season game.

The Bruins didn’t have a full practice Wednesday before heading to New York, but Swayman was on the ice with the reservists.

“He always has to be ready,” Cassidy said. He’s number two. « 

The Bruins will be deprived of the attacker Curtis Lazar in Game 6. He sustained a lower body injury in Game 5, when he crashed into the board trying to check out the Islanders defenseman. Adam pelech. There is no timeline for Lazar’s return.

The defenders Kevan miller and Brandon carlo will also miss Game 6. Miller will miss a seventh straight game with an undisclosed injury, and Carlo will miss a third straight game with an equally unspecified injury.