Rask: 'It felt like I was home' in first game back with Bruins

Home sweet home for Tuukka Rask.

The Boston Bruins goaltender felt he was right where he belonged Thursday - in the crease at TD Garden, leading his team to a victory.

"It felt like I was home, basically," Rask said following his season debut against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Rask looked right at home, too, stopping 25 of 27 shots in the 3-2 victory. It was his first game since last June following offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip.

Rask said he felt much better physically than he did a year ago when he played through the injured hip. The 34-year-old referenced a couple of kick saves he made during Thursday's contest while talking about his improved mobility.

"Some stuff like that last year was totally out of the question," Rask said.

At least one of his Bruins teammates was pleased to have the longtime netminder back in goal, too.

"I was so happy to have him back, you have no idea," David Pastrnak said. "I was ready to leave it all out there for him. I told him, 'I'm going to get a hat trick' before the game, and he didn't believe me."

Pastrnak followed through on his promise, scoring all three of Boston's goals.

While Rask was certainly thrilled that Pastrnak provided some goal support, he's also pleased this year's Bruins squad has more fellow Finns with the additions of Erik Haula and Urho Vaakanainen.

"We've had enough Czechs and Slovaks and Swedes, so it's about time we get some Finns," Rask joked.

Rask signed a one-year, $1-million contract on Tuesday to return to the Bruins.