Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask’s first Winter Olympics got off to a pretty forgettable start. But after allowing a goal just 36 seconds into his first game, Rask eventually settled in.
It wasn’t his sharpest performance, but Rask stopped 16 of the 20 shots he faced in Team Finland’s 8-4 win over Austria on Thursday in Sochi. The early goal came off the stick of New York Islanders forward Michael Grabner, who ended up having a big game. The Austrian winger recorded a hat trick, scoring three of the four goals that got by Rask.
It’s still unknown what the Finns will do with their goaltending situation moving forward. Rask is part of one of the tournament’s best stables of goaltenders. He will compete for playing time with Dallas’ Kari Lehtonen (who dressed as the backup on Thursday) and San Jose’s Antti Niemi.
Finland is back in action Friday against Norway before taking on a loaded Canada team Sunday.
