Goaltending is very often about demeanor. A sense of calm is good. Confidence is crucial.
Zane McIntyre, recalled from Providence of the American Hockey League in time for Friday’s Bruins practice at Warrior Ice Arena, seems entirely comfortable in an NHL locker room and on the practice ice. The Bruins need him to be just as comfortable in a game here and there to spell workhorse Tuukka Rask.
McIntyre brings poise. This is a guy who’s so responsible, his roommates in Providence call him “Dad’’ because he takes care of paying the bills and doing household chores, even making small furniture.
McIntyre’s arrival means Anton Khudobin’s departure. Khudobin, who was not providing the Bruins with the No. 2 goalie they needed (he was 1-5-0), was assigned to Providence. Khudobin, 30, cleared waivers Thursday.
McIntyre, 24, was first tested earlier this season and played in three games, posting an 0-2-0 record with a 4.04 goals against average and .859 save percentage. His opponents? The Rangers and Canadiens. Nothing easy there. Though he played well enough, McIntyre lost both games and was returned to Providence.
He even dropped a little further, to the Atlanta Gladiators of the East Coast Hockey League, because Providence was full and he needed to play.
Back with the Baby B’s, he went on a tear. He is 10-0-0 with Providence, leads the AHL in GAA (1.41) and save percentage (.951), and was the league’s Goalie of the Month for December. “He’s here because he’s playing well,’’ said Bruins coach Claude Julien.
With the Bruins playing back-to-back games in Florida and Carolina in the next two days – followed by 2½ weeks of every-other-day games — getting Rask some rest is essential. Julien would not commit to a start for McIntyre, saying it “depended on the situation.’’
But McIntyre has played big games in Boston before. As a college junior, the 6-foot-2-inch, 206-pound netminder led the University of North Dakota to the Frozen Four in 2015 at TD Garden, where his team lost in the semifinals to Boston University.
After that, he joined Providence, recording a 14-8-7 record with a 2.68 GAA and .898 save percentage in 31 games. The native of Thief River Falls, Minn., was originally selected by Boston in the sixth round (165th overall) of the 2010 draft.
McIntyre thinks his previous call-up contributed to his success in Providence.
“Obviously time up here helped,’’ he said. “Getting the experience, seeing those shots day in and day out, maybe slowed down the play in a sense in my perspective down in Providence.’’
McIntyre is big on routine, and he seems to be trying to seamlessly add in the NHL.
“Getting called up for the first time is all flash and lights and maybe blown out of proportion in a sense, where you’ve just got to go out and play hockey,’’ he said.
“I think now maybe this time coming up I’ve been through it, you know what to expect, know you can play at this level, just go out there and stop the puck. Pretty simple to say, but there’s obviously a lot that goes into it.’’
McIntyre already knows some of the Bruins from Providence, and he makes learning about teammates, particularly the defensemen, part of his routine.
“The first time I came up, big Z [Zdeno Chara] was nice enough to sit down for a cup of coffee and a pregame meal, it was good,’’ he said. “It’s good to do those little things.
“Obviously communication and playing the puck, especially for the breakouts, is key. So to establish that and to make that relationship is huge.’’
According to former Providence teammate and roommate Austin Czarnik, McIntyre never stops working on improving.
“It’s my job to be a goalie, to stop the puck wherever I’m at, whether it’s in Atlanta, whether it’s in Providence or whether it’s here in Boston,’’ McIntyre said. “To just accept the role and try and do my best is what I’m going to try and do.’’
If his play is as measured as his attitude, the Bruins may have found their man.
With a bang
David Backes, returning from a concussion, collided with Adam McQuaid at center ice during a drill Friday, a heavyweight clash. “That was as good a test as he’ll get,’’ said Julien. “He finished practice, so that’s a good sign. I think it’s looking good [for his return] but I haven’t had any confirmation yet.’’ Backes, who bashed his stick against the boards in frustration after the collision, will travel to Florida with the team . . . Defenseman John-Michael Liles (concussion) also practiced. “He’s doing well,’’ said Julien, “and feeling good enough we’re going to have to make a decision on him soon.’’ . . . The Bruins assigned forward Noel Acciari, 25, to Providence. Acciari has appeared in 19 games, notching two assists with four penalty minutes and an even rating. He ranks third on the team with 2.3 hits per game . . . Bruins prospect Charlie McAvoy, a Boston University sophomore, was named Player of the Game in the US’ gold-medal victory over Canada in the World Juniors Thursday . . . The Bruins team plane was diverted to Miami International Airport from Fort Lauderdale and landed at 5:05 pm. The thoughts and prayers of the Bruins organization are with the victims of Friday’s shooting and the entire Fort Lauderdale community.
