Tuukka Rask Flips Out After Shootout

One of the most controversial changes to the NHL in recent years has been the addition of the shootout. Is it fair to decide a game in which two teams play until their faces bleed for 65 minutes (including overtime) with a series of breakaways? I think we can put Boston Bruins prospect Tuukka Rask down for an emphatic "no."

Rask, currently playing for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League, lost his mind after a shootout loss to the Albany River Rats on Friday night with a temper tantrum that would have made Robbie Ftorek proud.

After playing to a scoreless tie through regulation and overtime, the two teams squared off in a shootout, which Albany ultimately won, 2-1. Both River Rats goals, however, were somewhat controversial, at least in the mind of Providence's 22-year-old netminder.

Jakub Petruzalek scored Albany's first goal after it appeared Rask had poke-checked the puck off his stick. In the following round, River Rats forward Harrison Reed scored the eventual game-winner, despite Rask's argument that the puck hit the post. What followed was a Lou Piniella-like meltdown, complete with stick tossing and a flying milk crate from the runway to the Providence locker room.

Video can be seen at the website for ABC channel 6 in Providence.

Rask is one of the Bruins' top prospects, and was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in June 2006 for goaltender Andrew Raycroft. He's posted a .915 save percentage in 51 starts for Providence this season.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-21-2009 @ 3:13PM

sam54 said...

Actually, I'm with him. The shootout is an abomination, best left to soccer. Let them play 5 more minutes 3 on 3, after the initial 4 on 4. If it's tied after that, then each team gets a point. End of story.

3-21-2009 @ 3:36PM

chrisp tha ghost said...

Was the play reviewed upstairs? Is there a replay rule in the AHL?

adamgretz said...

The plays were not reviewed.

3-21-2009 @ 4:49PM

dferre5587 said...

Rask has a real beef here. First of all, when a shooter is stopped orlosses control where the play goes backwardsthe play is over, secondly, the puck hit the post. the refs are right there, and they blow it. it should have been reviewed on the final goal, the first goal was a no brainer. never should have been allowed. its funny, they tested out reviews of goals and shoot outs in the minors, so there is no reason not to use it here, refs should be suspended for blowing the call and the game.

4-29-2009 @ 7:20PM

arielmariexoxo said...

it's too bad that they don't have any reviewing in the AHL.
Tuukka had every right to be upset like that. the first goal was sooooooo bs, I can't even fathom how the shooter let it go. he should know the rules too, and even if he had wanted to play that dirty the ref should have realized that the forward momentum had stopped. completely ridiculous.

Tuukka is one of the best goalies I've seen in a long time. especially when it comes down to the SO. I guess the way to beat him is to have a completely biased ref.

anyone know what happened to this ref anyway? I hope he never calls a hockey game, any kind, from juniors on up, ever, ever again.