Finland: Taskmaster Rask

The original Taskmaster was a villainous creation of Marvel Comics, a character said to possess ‘photographic reflexes’ that enable him to mimic the skills of those he studies.

Highly-touted Finnish netminder Tuukka Rask wasn’t quite as invincible in his SM-Liiga debut last week, dropping a 6-1 decision to IFK Helsinki.

Widely recognized as the most talented goaltending prospect to emerge from Finland in the past decade, behind only Kari Lehtonen, Rask received mixed reviews in his first appearance at the senior level.

"His task was not an easy one. Our defense didn't help him enough," commented Ilves head coach Vaclav Sykora after the game, in which Rask made 38 saves.

"Tuukka is a young guy who needs experiences, and this game was something different for

him. We are satisfied with his performance."

Rask struggled briefly with his confidence in the second period, allowing back-to-back goals, but managed to pull himself together and log a full 60 minutes.

Sykora and his assistants must have gained some trust in their young stopper’s ability to handle SM-Liiga hockey, as they put him in the net again later in the week, replacing starter Juha Pitkamaki for the third period against the league’s top team Karpat. Rask allowed one goal on seven shots.

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Topping the junior league rankings after five games with a .936 save percentage prior to his call-up, Rask is a patient, positional goalkeeper who possesses exceptional reactions, especially his glove and blocker.

A talented athlete, Rask maintains good posture in the net and has a firm understanding of how to maximize his 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame. He covers the net exceptionally well, making himself appear larger than life to shooters.

Though comfortable staying back in his crease, he is also very proficient at coming out and cutting off the angles, powered by his strong game-reading skills.

However, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Rebound control is an area that needs work, as he directs too many pucks into the slot area. As well, like most 17-year-olds, Rask needs to get much stronger, as he lacks the conditioning to handle a full pro menu at this stage. His skating and puckhandling outside the crease are other aspects that require further fine-tuning.

Rask is the favorite to backstop Team Finland at both the Under-20 and Under-18 World Championships later this season, looking to bolster an international resume highlighted by a surprising gold-medal win at the Viking Cup last December.