What’s wrong with Tuuka?

Tuukka Rask 0-3-0 so far this season...

With five games in the book of the Lakers’ 2017-18 CCHL season, the team owns an uninspiring record of 2-3 with 16 goals scored and 15 goals allowed. But digging a little below the surface, you discover that the performances of the two goaltenders that have started games thus far have been very different.

Following significant mismanagement of their goalie situation last season, the Lakers used the offseason to seriously address that part of their roster. Between acquiring Cam Talbot via trade and signing Cam Ward as a free agent, only Tuuka Rask remains from last year.

While Ware has yet to see any regular season game action, Talbot is currently 2-0, having allowed only 4 goals. By all accounts, Talbot has delivered thus far on the promise of a solid contributor to a team with playoff aspirations.

Unfortunately, Rask - last season’s stalwart - has not been as successful. In three starts, Rask is 0-3 and has allowed 10 goals. Rask has posted a 0.894 save percentage compared to the 0.942 of Talbot.

While some this can be dismissed to small sample sizes, this does not bode well for the Lakers if they must lean on Rask as the season progresses.

The Lakers will face a difficult decision in these next few weeks if Rask does not turn things around as he carries a cap hit of 7.5 million is signed until the end of next season. Meanwhile, Talbot is in the first of a three-year contract and Ward is signed for only one year.

In the meantime, the Lakers will continue to split starts between both Rask and Talbot with the hope that things work out.

As the 2017-18 CCHL season continues to play out, it will be interesting to see how it all goes.