Updated: 7:10 PM EDT Apr 5, 2021
By Russ Reed
The Boston Bruins will be without their top two goaltenders for Monday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden.Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy announced that backup goalie Jaroslav Halak tested positive for COVID-19 and was unable to practice Monday under the National Hockey League's COVID-19 protocols.Halak, 35, has recorded nine wins in 17 games played this season with a 2.44 goals against average, a .910 save percentage with two shutouts. Three of his eight losses this season came via overtime or shootout.News of Halak's positive test comes as No. 1 netminder Tuukka Rask remains out of action due to an upper-body injury he suffered March 25 against the New York Islanders. Before that game against the Islanders, Rask had missed six contests due to a bad back.Cassidy said Rask skated on Monday but ruled him out for the Bruins' home game against the Flyers and their road game in Philadelphia on Tuesday. The 34-year-old goalie will, however, travel with the team to Philadelphia as Boston embarks on a three-game road trip, according to Cassidy.Rookie Dan Vladar will start in net against the Flyers Monday night as was previously scheduled. The 23-year-old has a 2-1 record in three games this season with a 2.03 goals against average and a .929 save percentage.Jeremy Swayman, a University of Maine product who has played nine games with the Providence Bruins this season, will be Boston's backup goaltender against Philadelphia.“(Vladar is) going to stay in there, and we’ll worry about tomorrow when we get more info (on Halak)," Cassidy said.The Bruins will be getting a player back in their lineup for Monday's game, as forward Jake DeBrusk will play for the first time since March 18 after spending more than two weeks in COVID-19 protocol.DeBrusk says he began to develop symptoms a few days after landing in protocol on March 19, including the loss of taste and smell but described his overall experience with COVID-19 as "not terrible.""I feel ready to go," DeBrusk said Monday. "Obviously, it will be a little bit different with game pace and game level, but that -- for me -- is all I really care about."DeBrusk, 24, has three goals and four assists in 21 games played this season. He also scored two goals in his previous four games before landing in COVID-19 protocol.In addition, Cassidy said Monday that he is planning to bring defenseman Kevan Miller back into the lineup on Tuesday in Philadelphia. Miller, 33, last played Feb. 18 due to a knee injury and has played in just 15 games this season.