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Kalman: Rask Wants To Improve Even If Bruins' Slump Isn't Entirely His Fault

BOSTON (CBS) -- Entering this season, a lot of the focus was on whether the Bruins could find a capable backup goaltender and alleviate some of the workload that was put on Tuukka Rask last season.

Rask played well while tying the franchise record by playing in 70 games, but it was widely believed that the Bruins couldn't rely on a repeat of that performance and have the type of success they covet.

The way things are shaking out this season, the Bruins might wind up in a Catch-22. They're now 0-3-0 after losing to Tampa Bay on Monday, and if their start gets any worse they might need to ask Rask to carry them for the duration in a desperate attempt to sneak into the playoffs. But if Rask's play doesn't improve, the Bruins might not want him in their crease for the long haul.

Rask now has a .846 save percentage and 4.69 goals-against average and he's allowed 14 goals in three games after he gave up six on 23 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Lightning at TD Garden. Although goaltending might not be the biggest cause of the Bruins' worst start since 1999, it's the element of the game they're not supposed to have to worry about. And even Rask is concerned.

The Bruins, though, didn't decide to pay Rask $7 million a year for practically the rest of his career because of his talents. They also invested in his character and he was more than willing to own up to his mistakes and he made it clear that he's not expecting anything to be given to him.

"I want to be good, I want to deserve my playing time," Rask said after the loss to the Lightning. "And I think that's my biggest concern now is to play good hockey and give us a chance to win and not let games like tonight happen. So that's where my head's at. We'll think about workload some other time."

Even with the return of Zdeno Chara after a two-game injury absence, the Bruins are still a team in flux. They're working in kids like Colin Miller and Joe Morrow on their back end and their forwards still haven't learned the first rule of Bruins hockey under Claude Julien is to take care of your own end. It's not unfair to ask Rask to spectacular and he's been pedestrian through three games.

In fact, with Boston trailing just 4-3 early in the third period, Rask might've been worthy of a benching. He stopped a couple golden opportunities by Tampa Bay stars Ondrej Palat and Tyler Johnson. But then Jonathan Drouin's shot with 5:38 elapsed made Rask look like he was 20 years older than his 28 years of age. Rask's pads closed just about the time the fluttering puck glided over the goal line. Down 5-3, the Bruins had little chance of mounting a comeback against the defending Eastern Conference champions.

"He dropped his shoulder and I kind of, I was too narrow in my stance and then I was late," Rask said. "So it's just one of those. You can't let in that at that point of the game. I made two saves at the start of third and then something like that happens, so you can't ... it deflates the whole atmosphere of the team, so that sucked."

Even if the Bruins have matched the 1999-2000 team for futility at the start of the season, it's not like Rask is holding out like Byron Dafoe did at the start of that disappointing season. The Bruins aren't relying on the second coming off John Grahame or Rob Tallas, the two goaltenders that ineptly filled in for Dafoe during his contract dispute. This is Tuukka Rask, 2014 Vezina Trophy winner and 2014 bronze medal winner.

But even an all-world goaltender like Rask needs help. The Bruins might've been better in stretches against Tampa Bay than they were in their prior two games. There were plenty of repeat mistakes and even some steps back during the defeat. Let's face, the Bruins are a giveaway festival right now. Whether it's David Krejci, Joe Morrow, or even Patrice Bergeron (yes, blessed Bergeron's ill-advised giveaway led to Drouin's goal), there are a lot of players, old and young, with a lot of room for improvement.

Rask's humility was matched by his optimism after the loss to Tampa Bay.

"I think we showed today we played great at times," Rask said. "Even overall it wasn't a bad game. The power play was great, the first period was great. As I said, I just need to make more saves and it will be fine. I'll take the blame on this one."

All the blame and workload talk aside, it's a pretty sure bet Rask will find his form and be among the league leaders in the major goaltending categories once this season hits its stride. Whether Rask's improved play will mean anything for a Bruins team that could be playing out the string by January is another matter.

Matt Kalman covers the Bruins for CBSBoston.com and also contributes to NHL.com and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter @TheBruinsBlog.

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