Projo Sports Blog

NORTH SMITHFIELD -- The Providence Bruins will be without prized goalie prospect Tuukka Rask for Friday night's game against the Portland Pirates and possibly for the rest of the weekend as well.

Coach Rob Murray would not disclose the nature of Rask's injury, but said today that he has not been able to practice this week and is questionable for the weekend, which also includes a visit to Springfield on Saturday and a home game with Hartford on Sunday.

Rask's last game was Saturday night's 5-2 loss in Portland.

"He's a little sore,'' Murray said.

Rask's injury does not appear to be serious. The 21-year-old Finnish goalie was seen walking around the practice rink in shorts with a wrap on his left ankle.

Rask had a strong training camp in Boston, but with Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez ahead of him on the depth chart he was sent down for a second year in the AHL. Rask has not matched his preseason performance: His goals-against average of 2.78 in 11 games is 22nd in the league. Rask's save percentage is 0.909.

Kevin Regan will start Friday against first-place Portland at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, Murray said. It will be the fifth start for the UNH grad, who was last year's Hockey East player of the year. Regan is 3-1 with a 3.23 goals-against average and a 0.872 save percentage.

The backup will be Kevin Nastiuk, who has been playing with the Gwinnett (Ga.) Gladiators of the East Coast Hockey league. Nastiuk was en route from Georgia yesterday but should be here in time for Friday's game. Nastiuk was in training camp with the P-Bruins but was released when Rask was sent down from Boston. Nastiuk has a 3.04 goals-against average and a .0886 save percentage for Gwinnett.

 Tags  Boston Bruins Kevin Nastiuk Kevin Regan Providence Bruins Tuukka Rask

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