Tuukka Rask suffered migraine in game against Rangers

Rask looked to make a save during the first period of a game against the Rangers on Saturday.Mary Schwalm/AP

RALEIGH, N.C. — Tuukka Rask didn’t feel right after the first period of Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Rangers. One puck drop in the second was enough to confirm his concern.

“I just started seeing dots,” Rask said of the first intermission. “I went out there. Then I saw two No. 37s taking the faceoff. So I was like, ‘I better get out of here.’ ”

At first, Rask believed he was dehydrated. Team doctors concluded, however, that Rask had suffered a migraine. The symptoms lasted for approximately 25 minutes after his departure at 0:10 of the second period. Doctors checked his eyes once he left the game.

“It ended up being one of those situations where it was more prudent to keep him out,” coach Claude Julien said. “With the score being what it was, there was no reason to try and rush him back. He was fine today.”

Rask has had migraines before. His mother and brother have experienced them, too. He said Saturday’s migraine was the worst he’s had.

“When you can’t really see, it’s tough for a goalie to stay out there,” Rask said.

Rask returned to his normal puckstopping self Sunday against the Hurricanes. Rask turned back 30 of 31 shots. The only puck he couldn’t turn back was Nathan Gerbe’s finish of a two-on-one rush at the end of the second period.

Rask had help from his posts. Justin Faulk and Jeff Skinner struck iron in the third. But Rask submitted several critical saves to backstop his team to 2 points. His best save was in the second while Chris Kelly was off for high-sticking. Chris Terry snapped off a close-range one-timer from the slot during the power play. Rask punched out Terry’s shot to keep the Bruins up by one goal.

Rask has started six straight games and 10 of the last 11. One of the Bruins’ primary motives for pushing until the end is to get Rask some rest before the playoffs. Sunday was Rask’s 64th appearance.

His previous career high was 58 last season.

More work for Krug

To his employer, Torey Krug is a bottom-pairing defenseman and a power-play specialist. In the last six games, Krug is trying to prove his bosses wrong.

The coaching staff promoted Krug to the second pairing with Dennis Seidenberg midway through the Bruins’ 6-4 loss to Ottawa on March 19. The 23-year-old has yet to crack in the bigger role.

That night in Ottawa, Krug scored an even-strength goal and added an assist on the power play. In Thursday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Anaheim, Krug assisted on Loui Eriksson’s man-up goal. On Saturday, Krug assisted on Milan Lucic’s five-on-five goal against the Rangers.

Krug’s offensive assets have been most welcome.

“He’s done a really good job of supporting the attack,” said Julien. “He’s skating well. He’s moving the puck well. He’s seemed to have good jump in his game. With Torey, because he doesn’t have the biggest size, it’s important that he’s moving his feet, even to defend — close the gap quickly, have a good stick. I think he’s really responded well. He seems to be thriving on that extra responsibility that he feels is on him.”

One of the reasons behind Krug’s increased workload is Dougie Hamilton’s injury. The Bruins are down their best three-zone defenseman because of an undisclosed injury, although they believe Hamilton will return before the end of the regular season.

Krug’s touch is most evident on the power play. As the quarterback of the No. 1 unit, Krug has 13 of his 36 points in man-up situations. He’s averaging 2:33 of power-play action per game, second-most on the team after Ryan Spooner (2:48). Krug is prompt to retrieve pucks and push them back up the ice.

Once he gets the puck at the point, he’s quick and hard with his decisions to shoot or pass. Opposing penalty kills do not have much time to get in their sets when Krug is managing the puck.

Yet Krug has been just as good in five-on-five play. Against the Rangers on Saturday, Krug made his best play on Lucic’s goal. Krug flew up the ice after David Pastrnak settled the puck on the right-side wall in the defensive zone. Krug drove the middle of the offensive zone, which drew Keith Yandle and Dan Boyle. By drawing the New York defensemen his way, Krug opened a lane for Lucic’s shot.

The downside to Krug’s aggressiveness is how teams can counter the other way. Krug got caught up the ice on Gerbe’s second-period goal on Sunday.

On March 19, Smith committed two giveaways that led to Ottawa goals. Smith was a healthy scratch for the next game against Florida.

Confidence rising

On Saturday, as Reilly Smith started the breakout, Mats Zuccarello closed on the forecheck. Smith made a high-speed, highly skilled maneuver. Smith banked the puck to himself off the left-side boards, blew past Zuccarello, and steamed up the ice. At the conclusion of the rush, Smith punched in a rebound to give the Bruins a 4-0 lead.

Smith had gone 14 straight games without a goal.

“I didn’t realize it was that long until after I checked,” Smith said. “The last goal I had was in late February. It was just one of those chances you don’t get many of. It was nice to finally get one of those.”

McQuaid moves on Adam McQuaid needed stitches above his left eye on Saturday after he was butt-ended by Tanner Glass at the end of the game. Glass was fined $3,897.85 for the penalty. “In the heat of the moment, things can happen. I wasn’t even necessarily expecting anything,” McQuaid said of Glass’s fine. “We move on. I’m really no worse for the wear.” Earlier in the game, McQuaid declined Glass’s invitation to fight with the Bruins holding a three-goal lead. “Regardless of the situation, you’ve got to pick your spot and try to be smart about it,” McQuaid said of fighting.