BostonBruins.com – If Bruins Head Coach Claude Julien gives the nod to Bruins Anton Khudobin against the Ottawa Senators tonight, the 25-year-old goaltender said he anticipates some butterflies.

Khudobin

Khudobin has a 4-1 record in his six NHL appearances with the Minnesota Wild, boasting a .955 save percentage and a 1.39 goals-against-average. 

So why the possible pregame jitters? Khudobin hasn’t played in an NHL hockey game in over a year – his last being a 4-1 victory for the Minnesota Wild against the Edmonton Oilers Jan. 18, 2011.

“Well of course, we’ll see what it’s going to be before the game like what kind of butterflies I’ll have,” Khudobin said after the Bruins morning skate in Ottawa.

“But of course, I’m going to have a little because it’s my first start pretty much after one year. But at the same time, I’m ready to play and really excited.”

This season, Khudobin posted a 21-19-3 record with the P-Bruins before being called up April 2.

“Well it’s great,” Khudobin said. “It’s always fun to play at this level, and I was waiting for this so I’m very excited.”

Often, Khudobin has been asked about his approach to the game and has replied by saying he just has to stop the puck.

Simple enough.

But on Thursday, Khudobin divulged deeper into his strategy that he plans to deploy if he’s named the starter for tonight.

“You have to prepare before the game, of course it’s not just stopping the puck all the time,” Khudobin said. “Of course, it has to be focused – the energy of being in a game and I got my shots in pregame skate so I’ve felt the puck and I think that’s enough.”