Malcolm Subban yanked in NHL debut after 3 goals on 3 shots

Tuukka Rask had played in 24 of the last 25 games for the Boston Bruins heading into Friday night’s road contest at the St. Louis Blues. So coach Claude Julien turned to rookie backup Malcolm Subban to make his NHL debut and give Rask a rest.

The result? Tuukka Rask has now played in 25 of the Bruins’ last 26 games.

Subban was pulled in the second period after giving up three goals on three straight shots on goal in the opening 5 minutes and 9 seconds of the stanza. Petteri Lindbohm scored through his glove at 48 seconds.

Alex Pietrangelo scored on a deflection at 4:16. T.J. Oshie scored on a rocket under the crossbar while Subban at 5:09.

And his night was over, as Rask replaced him. 

The Bruins entered the game with a one-point lead on the Florida Panthers for the final wild card spot, as both teams had played 57 games. They had consecutive overtime losses in their last two games. The pressure was on; perhaps on another night, Subban gets a chance to work out of that second period. But not tonight.

Malcolm Subban was drafted No. 24 overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, and made his professional debut last season with the AHL Providence Bruins. He was excited for the chance to finally make his first NHL start before the game.  

“[You] wait for your opportunity and I’m getting mine tonight, so I’m going to make the best of it.”

Or maybe just forget about it and move on to the second start.