Veteran goalie Tim Thomas, left, is doing his part to help friend and fellow netminder Hannu Toivonen stay positive.

The Providence Journal / Ruben W. Perez

BOSTON — The Boston Bruins’ front office has not given up on Hannu Toivonen.

Just because the 22-year-old goaltender was assigned to Providence last weekend doesn’t mean general manager Peter Chiarelli wants to trade him by this afternoon’s deadline. Serving as a backup to Tim Thomas wasn’t doing Toivonen any good. Toivonen needs to play and he needs to play now.

This season hasn’t turned out the way most had forecast for the young Finnish netminder, and even Toivonen could not have imagined he would back in the AHL again. After all, this was supposed to be his season, his year to shine. The Bruins traded Andrew Raycroft to Toronto last offseason, leaving Toivonen and Thomas to fight it out for the top spot between the pipes.

It wasn’t much of a battle.

While Toivonen has struggled with injuries and early-season confidence problems, Thomas has been outstanding for Boston. Because of Thomas’ success, Bruins coach Dave Lewis really hasn’t given Toivonen much ice time. In fact, he has played back-to-back games only four times this season.

"We have to develop Hannu into the goalie we think he can be," said Lewis after the team’s game-day skate at the Garden yesterday. "Hannu hasn’t played a lot, partly by my decision and partly by something we’ve observed. For him to get better he has to play, and he’s young."

Lewis was quick to point out that Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek didn’t start having success until his late 20s.

The same can be said for Red Wings backup Chris Osgood, who, according to Lewis, "paid his dues."

"Just because you’re 21 or 22 doesn’t mean you’re going to fit right into the league," added Lewis. "There are growing pains and right now Hannu is going through growing pains. It’s frustrating for him and we sense that watching him in practice. Overall for him and his career, this is the best way to go."

Toivonen and Thomas are unique.

On and off the ice they are very close, and it was Thomas who took Toivonen under his wing during his first professional season (2003-2004) in Providence. They lived next door to each other and pushed each other on the ice.

This season must be a difficult one for both of them.

Thomas, 32, has finally made it in the NHL on a full-time basis this season and it’s been his play that has kept the Bruins in playoff contention. He’s enjoying the type of success he always thought he could achieve, he just needed the opportunity.

At the same time he’s watched his close friend, someone he believes has the talent to be a tremendous goalie in the NHL, struggle to a point where even Thomas feels empathy.

"It’s been difficult because I’ve been there," said Thomas. "Things don’t always come as easily and as quickly as you think they are going to. You put a lot of pressure on yourself at a younger age than you do when you’re a little bit older. You feel like ‘it’s got to be now’ because you don’t have the patience to wait. That’s the way I was when I was his age, too.

"It’s been difficult because you want to help him, but you don’t really know how. It’s his own struggle, and unfortunately I’m too busy trying to take care of my own job. We’re so busy during the season with all the games, you don’t have the time to sit down and talk about stuff. When you do get the chance, sometimes you don’t want to talk about it; you want to relax and talk about something other than hockey. He’s handled it way better than I would have at his age."

It’s not that Toivonen has shut out the world to his situation; he just wants an opportunity to get back on track and prove to the Bruins his worth. At times when Thomas has wanted to talk with Toivonen, the veteran knew maybe it wasn’t the right time. When the ice was finally broken and the two talked about it, Toivonen told Thomas he understands his situation isn’t Thomas’ fault.

"On the other hand, there wasn’t a lot to talk about," said Thomas. "If I were him, and I know it’s very difficult, but I would try not to get down. He’s 22 years old. He played great last year and this year he just hasn’t had a lot of game time to get on a roll. But it’s not the end of his hockey career, by any means whatsoever."

The turning point for Toivonen in Boston this year came on Jan. 27, the first game back after the All-Star break when Lewis decided to give Thomas the nod against the Senators. Prior to the league’s hiatus, Toivonen had two consecutive solid efforts, a win against Pittsburgh and a loss to Ottawa. When he wasn’t given a chance after the break, it was clear his psyche had taken a hit.

He played the final 40 minutes in a 7-2 loss to Florida on Saturday, his first action in 11 games. Now, he’s back in Providence, probably for the remainder of the season.

"He has a tremendous future ahead of him," said Lewis.

jmcdonal@projo.com