On Wednesday, the Bruins welcome the best team in the league, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The biggest question for Bruce Cassidy – until someone proves they can solidify the top spot – is who he’ll start in net: Anton Khudobin or Tuukka Rask?

That decision will be made on Wednesday by Cassidy. But the Bruins bench boss still has to take questions surrounding the daily saga of the Bruins goaltending controversy.

“We will employ both of them,” Cassidy said following Tuesday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena, “and if one of them grabs it – and the other one just isn’t up to par – then we’ll look at it that way.”

A bird’s eye view and the stats between Khudobin and Rask show which Bruins goalie has been performing better during the first two months of the 2017-18 season.

Sure, Rask looked decent in Sunday’s start against the Oilers, his first since November 15 in Anaheim. Aside from the first goal allowed on a shot by yet another Bruins killer in Patrick Maroon to tie things up at 1-1, the 2014 Vezina winner looked composed for most of the night. The team in front of him, however, wasn’t as composed and looked sluggish in the 4-2 loss to Edmonton, which snapped the B’s four-game win streak.

That was Rask’s best appearance since a 2-1 win over Vegas on November 2. Khudobin, on the other hand, has clearly performed better than his fellow goalie compadre. He’ll enter Wednesday’s game having not lost once in regulation (7-0-2) to go along with a .932 save percentage and 2.22 goals against average – good for third and fourth in the league among all NHL goalies with at least 10 appearances in those respective categories.

Though he’d like to stick with Rask, and still sees him as his No. 1, for the time being, Cassidy is certainly not afraid to give Khudobin the nod given his recent success.

Stats wise, the Bruins have performed better in front of Anton Khudobin than they have in front of Tuukka Rask. (Photo by Angela Spagna, Bruins Daily)

“I don’t think I’d go that far,” Cassidy said when asked if the starting job is up for grabs. “What I’d say is we’re not afraid to use either goaltender right now. There’s no exact science in this. We’re trying to put the best one in that we feel that’s best for the team and still keep the individual in mind and make sure that one isn’t sitting longer than necessary.”

“Tuukka is our No. 1 and Anton is our backup,” Cassidy added. “Anton has played really well and he’s pushing our No. 1 and we wanted that. So hopefully our No. 1 gets his game going so we can have both [goalies] playing on top of their game, and that’s what we want.”

Was Cassidy’s aforementioned quote a vote of confidence for Rask? Or is it merely just trying to stir the pot?

“In the way we look at it, we have two capable goalies that are playing, and that’s really it,” Rask said after Tuesday’s practice that also included Brad Marchand, David Backes, Ryan Spooner and Anders Bjork with the latter donning a red non-contact uniform.

“Obviously I’m used to playing more games in the past, and now it’s a little different – taking 3-4 games off and then sitting on the sidelines, but then again not a big deal. I did it before, and the season is still young and we have a lot of games in front of us, so I’m sure it’s going to catch up.”

Despite his critics, Rask, who came into 2017-18 having appeared in at least 64 games in each of the last three seasons, has proved he is capable to be a reliable starter in the NHL. Khudobin, lately, is proving that he’s ready to step up and take on a heavier role in the starting lineup.

Given the numbers by the goalies and the way the team has been playing in front of whoever is starting, one would have to think that Khudobin is the best option for Wednesday’s game against the Bolts on NBCSN. In Khudobin’s nine starts, the Bruins have averaged 3.77 goals per game. The B’s average goals per game in Rask’s 13 starts? An even 2.00 goals per contest.

On the other hand, the caliber of opponents that Khudobin and Rask have faced are quite different. The eight teams that Khudobin has faced have averaged a combined 2.77 goals per game compared to 3.12 goals per game in the 11 teams Rask has faced.

Surely, this is a lot to ponder over for Cassidy come tomorrow night. The one thing Rask may have over Khudobin is his experience and track record against the Lightning, who are averaging a league best 3.7 goals per contest entering their contest with the Sabres on Tuesday. Despite a pedestrian .904 save percentage, Rask is 13-6-1 in 20 games against the Lightning with four career shutouts and a 2.59 goals against average.

“We’ve talked about it. Tuukka has had a lot of success in this league, so if we’re talking about Tuukka I think his record matches up pretty well against I’d say 90 percent of the teams,” Cassidy said about looking at Rask’s and Khudobin’s success against certain teams going into his decision making process. “His record against Tampa is good and his record against Philly [Saturday’s opponent] is good, and I haven’t looked past that.”

There’s one thing Rask wants in his next appearance – whenever that is – more than anything else.

“Win,” Rask said in his one-word answer.

For a goalie who is 3-8-2 (along with a .899 save percentage and 2.91 GAA) and has given up at least three goals in each of his last six appearances, Rask doesn’t care how that win comes. He just cares about the win itself.

That win for Tuukka Rask will have to come sooner, rather than later. It might have to come as early as Wednesday night against the red-hot Lightning. Otherwise, with just four games in the next two weeks, Bostonians will likely be seeing a lot more of Anton Khudobin between the pipes.