Bruins place Spooner on IR, activate Backes

Oct 19, 2017 - 8:10 PM The Boston Bruins placed forward Ryan Spooner on injured reserve, one of a series of moves announced by the team Thursday.

Spooner is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks after suffering a right groin adductor tear. He was injured in Boston's 3-1 loss at expansion Vegas on Sunday.

A second-round draft pick in 2010, Spooner had one assists in five games this season. He scored a combined 24 goals over the previous two seasons, missing only six games.

Forward David Backes, who has yet to play this season while dealing with diverticulitis, was activated off injured reserve and is eligible to play in Thursday night's game against visiting Vancouver.

Backes had 17 goals and 38 points in 2016-17 -- his first year with the Bruins after playing his first 10 seasons with the St. Louis Blues.

Boston also recalled goaltender Zane McIntyre from Providence of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis. The move was necessitated after starting netminder Tuukka Rask was hurt following a collision in Wednesday's practice.

Boston coach Bruce Cassidy said Rask was being evaluated Thursday and the club would have a better idea of his condition on Friday. With Rask sidelined, backup Anton Khudobin was scheduled to start Thursday night against the Canucks.

In another move, the team assigned left wing Peter Cehlarik to Providence. Cehlarik, 22, has not appeared in a game for Boston this season. He has two goals and three assists for five points through three games with Providence this season.