The blade to Rask’s left skate fell off after it was struck by a shot from Tampa forward Brayden Point in the second period. As the blade lie in the crease, an immobilized Rask pleaded frantically to officials, waving for them to whistle play dead. Unfortunately, that’s not how things work. And moments later, a point shot from Mikhail Sergachev found its way into the back of the net, trimming Boston’s lead to 3-2.
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Rask was none too pleased. He immediately grabbed the blade off the ice to show officials. When they shrugged, Rask burst into a tantrum, chucking the blade in disgust toward the boards (against his better judgment).
It was an unfortunate sequence for the Bruins and a stroke of bad luck for Rask, but language in the NHL rulebook plainly states officials aren’t required to blow their whistle if a goalie loses his skate blade. An exception might be made if the equipment becomes a safety hazard to the goalie or another player. The NHL didn’t see it that way.
NHL Rule 14.1 reads as follows:
Had Rask simply maintained his composure long enough to make a save and cover the puck, none of this is an issue. Fortunately for the Bruins, he didn’t linger over the ordeal for long. Rask repaired his blade and turned in one of his sharpest performances of the playoffs, stopping 34 of 36 Lightning shots in a 6-2 blowout to start the series.
