CHICAGO– The Boston Bruins have a big problem on their hands. Well actually, they have many problems on their hands.

One of the biggest issues facing the 2014-15 Boston Bruins is their lack of a backup goalie.

In the 12 games started by Niklas Svedberg or Malcom Subban, Tuukka Rask has had to come in and stop the bleeding created by his backup three times. Those three relief appearances have come in three of the last four games not started by the reigning Vezina winner.

With Rask getting the nod in all but three games since the calendar turned to 2015, the Bruins need to figure out their backup goalie situation in order to get Rask the rest he needs and help Rask become fresh for the playoffs—should they make it.

“That’s why I didn’t put (Rask) out there tonight,” head coach Claude Julien said after the Bruins were beat by the Blues Friday night.

“But when you look at the way your team is playing and you think you have a chance to win, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do here. I felt it was the best thing to do in the situation, the guys are confident, Tuukka’s in, we’re playing for that next goal, it’s 3-2 and maybe there’s an opportunity there. We’d like to get a break here with some good goaltending from our backup. I guess we’ll have to go back to the drawing board and look at how we want to approach this.”

Going back to the drawing board is a must, but what comes from that drawing board remains to be seen. It seems that the Bruins have lost confidence in Svedberg and based off last night’s performance, Subban is not quite ready for the bright lights of the National Hockey League.

“It’s not the way you want to debut, obviously, your teams in a tough spot right now. You try and give your team a chance to win and maybe spark the team a bit,” Subban said after making his NHL debut. “You don’t want to do the opposite. That’s what I did today. It’s tough for the guys. I couldn’t come through and give them a good performance. I’ve just got to react, look at the stuff I did wrong, and learn from it. Being a young guy, you can’t let it rattle you too much.”

Subban was sent back down to Providence Saturday morning.

Rumors started to swirl early this week that Subban would get the nod against the lowly Edmonton Oilers and what could possibly be a showcase for a trade as the March 2 deadline looms. That was not the case as Rask got the start, (a shootout loss) his 15th consecutive start.

Physically, Rask says he feels good. Mentally, he feels a little less fresh

“Obviously it is (mentally tiring) but you try not to think about it when you’re playing and just stay focused and try to do whatever you can do to keep the puck out of the net,” Rask said to reporters after Friday’s loss. “Obviously when you face a lot of shots and a lot of scoring chances it’s physically challenging but I feel good. We’re at the stage right now where every point matters. And if I have to play every game, I’ll play every game.”

Unfortunately for Rask and the Bruins, playing the Finnish goalie every game may be the only option as the B’s hold the slimmest of leads over the Florida Panthers for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

As much as the Bruins do not want to hear it: no answer may be in sight. That’s a bit of an issue for Peter Chiarelli, Claude Julien and company.

Rask will be in net Sunday afternoon when the Bruins travel to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks and try to pick up their only win on the five-game road trip.