"They're nagging. Not unique to just Tuukka for that position," Cassidy said Tuesday. "… And right now, I don't believe there's any reason to think that he won't be ready to go Thursday. So that's where we're at with Tuukka."
Rask appeared to be moving gingerly, especially in the second period, in a 4-3 overtime loss in Game 2 on Monday, when he made 35 saves.
The best-of-7 series is tied with Game 3 at New York on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVAS).
Rask missed significant time because of injuries this season. After holding his back at the end of a game against the New Jersey Devils on March 7, he missed six games. He returned for one period against the Islanders on March 25, then missed 11 games.
In his final nine starts of the regular season, Rask was 7-1-0 with a 2.07 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. In seven starts in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he is 5-2 with a 2.06 GAA and a .930 save percentage.
"Today's an off day for everybody, get away from the rink," Cassidy said. "If you need treatment, get in. I'll have a better update on if there's going to be a potential issue down the road. But right now, [Rask will] go in and get his treatment. Be ready to go tomorrow, I assume, unless I hear differently."
Cassidy was mildly critical of Rask's performance in Game 2, saying, "I just didn't think he tracked pucks as well tonight."
The Bruins have two options should Rask not be able to play, with rookie Jeremy Swayman pulling ahead of Jaroslav Halak down the stretch in the regular season. Swayman made his NHL debut April 6 and was 7-3-0 with a 1.50 GAA and a .945 save percentage in 10 games. Halak, who missed time with COVID-19 in April, was 9-6-4 with a 2.53 GAA and a .905 save percentage in 19 games (17 starts).
"As for [Rask's] injury, I don't believe there will be anything to worry about," Cassidy said. "If there is, then obviously we'll have to sort through that."
