#Daughter’s ‘medical emergency’ pushed Tuukka Rask out of NHL bubble

Bruins No. 1 goaltender Tuukka Rask cited family reasons when he opted to leave the NHL bubble prior to Game 3 against the Hurricanes this past Saturday, but apparently it was a family emergency regarding his daughter.

Rask had revealed to WEEI’s Dale Arnold in a text message that he needed to return home to his family because there was a family emergency he needed to tend to. Arnold said Rask revealed that everything was fine now, but that he still needed to leave.

On WEEI’s ‘The Greg Hill Show’ Wednesday morning, Hill shared more details about what happened after a pair of phone conversations with Rask on Tuesday.

“He is concerned right now with not being a further distraction for his team, which is in the middle of the Stanley Cup Playoffs,” Hill said. “He would prefer not to be the story and be something those guys are asked about repeatedly as they try to win a Stanley Cup.

“I can tell you that he got a phone call in the bubble from his wife, because there was a medical emergency with their daughter. Basically the kind of situation where I believe Tuukka Rask did what every parent would do and was obviously very concerned. It was suggested they seek medical help. Without revealing what that was, because I think I probably should leave that to him — he did tell me — as a father of two kids, I would be panicked and alarmed upon hearing that about a young kid.”

According to Hill, Rask didn’t say anything about the possibility of returning to the Bruins later in the postseason. Boston has a 3-1 games lead in their first-round series with Carolina with Game 5 scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

“Again, without necessarily revealing what he would not want me to reveal, he did speak to his daughter and his daughter did express something to him about where he was and what her situation was, which I think would lead any father, any parent, especially one who feels like that’s their most important job, parenting, to want to rush to be with their family at that time,” Hill said. “Personally, I can’t imagine being away from your family, away from your young kids, hearing your daughter say what she said, and not being panicked.

“So he made the decision to come home, and I think he knew that there was no way while that was going on that he would be the best teammate, be the best goaltender for that team that is in the middle of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.”

Rask had accumulated a 1-3 record since entering the Toronto bubble, along with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage. Boston has turned to backup Jaroslav Halak, who has gone 2-1 with a 2.73 GAA and a .897 save percentage this postseason.