The 31-year-old goalie left the Bruins on Friday and was gone for back-to-back wins against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday and Sunday and a day off on Monday.

He did not get into specifics on why he left, saying only it was a family matter.

"I have a job. My job is to be a hockey goalie for the Boston Bruins and I also have another job title and that's a family man," Rask said after practice Tuesday. "And this was a time when deep inside my heart I felt like I needed to take time to be with my family and make things right so I can be back here and focus on my job. That took three days. I'm back here. I'm back to work. And I'm ready to battle with these guys.

"At the end of the day, I realized that a hockey career is a very short career but your life is much longer than that. I appreciate that I got the privacy and time I needed. I'm ready to move on now."

Rask will accompany the Bruins on their upcoming road trip, which starts against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; ALT, NESN, NHL.TV).

Rask said that it was not an easy decision to take time away from the team, but that he never considered leaving the team entirely or retiring. Asked if he now feels unburdened he said, "Yes.

"Things happen in people's lives that you do some soul searching and try to seek the best answers," he said. "Like I said, there was a time that deep inside I felt like this was my decision and my time to step to my family and make that call. I couldn't be happier that I did it."

Rask was clear that he didn't believe the situation had affected him on the ice. He's 4-4-0 with a 3.05 goals-against-average and .901 save percentage and has seen backup Jaroslav Halak effectively take over the starting job. Rask has started seven of the Bruins' 17 games this season.

"It hasn't affected my job," he said. "I'm not going to make excuses that I played good games or bad games because of my personal life."

Coach Bruce Cassidy said Halak will play on Wednesday against the Avalanche. Rask will start either at the Dallas Stars on Friday or at the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.

Rask thanked those who have contacted him to wish him well and support him, along with the Bruins, who gave him to time to get away.

"I've never been more proud to be a part of this family, the Boston Bruins," he continued. "We've talked about it a lot that this is a family, and we are a family and we take care of each other when times are tough."