With Adam McQuaid suffering a sprained neck in Monday's Game 2 in Philadelphia, Hnidy will likely get the call to fill in for the Bruins when their second-round series against the Flyers resumes on Wednesday night at the Garden.
"That's why I've been here and guys have been here working every day behind the scenes for this situation," Hnidy said. "If somebody goes down, you have to be prepared to play. Unfortunately, that's where we're at. But at the same time, it's up to me to make sure I'm ready to go."
Bruins coach Claude Julien stopped short of confirming that Hnidy will play in Game 3.
"We'll see, we've got some options," he said. "Those decisions will be made [Wednesday]."
But Julien's options are pretty limited if McQuaid is unable to play, as expected. Rookie Steven Kampfer remains out with a knee injury suffered late in the regular season in Providence.
"He started skating today for the first time," Julien said of Kampfer. "He's still going to be a while."
The other defenseman who has been practicing with the big club is Matt Bartkowski, but he struggled in his limited opportunities in Boston in his first pro season and it's unlikely the Bruins would thrust a youngster into such a situation when an experienced defenseman like Hnidy is available.
"That's why [Bruins general manager] Peter [Chiarelli] went out and got him," defenseman Andrew Ference said of Hnidy. "It's a tough situation for a young kid to step into that hasn't played much. So to have a guy that's been there and done that, it helps. The game's so mental at this stage of the season, so it's a big thing to have somebody like that."
Hnidy, 35, has played 550 games over nine seasons in the NHL, including 111 with Boston in 2007-08 and 2008-09. He also has played 38 career NHL playoff games, 15 with the Bruins, including Game 2 against Montreal in the opening round, when Zdeno Chara was sidelined with dehydration.
"Having been in playoff situations and playing in the league for a number of years, I know what to expect," Hnidy said. "I know what the pace is going to be like. You've got to kind of elevate your game."
Hnidy is also comfortable with the Bruins' system from his previous stint here, as well as the time he's spent practicing with the club since being signed in late February.
"For the most part it's the same concept and it helps me to come in and be familiar with that," Hnidy said.
Just as important, Hnidy's teammates are comfortable with having him in the lineup and confident he can get the job done.
"He's solid and he's an experienced D-man and knows what to do," defenseman Dennis Seidenberg said. "He played [in the Bruins' system] before. It's not something different that gets thrown at him. He knows what the system is like and what his task is."
Seidenberg led all players in ice time in Game 2 with 36:26 as the Bruins played much of the 3-2 overtime victory with just five defensemen. He and the other Boston blueliners will welcome any help they can get from Hnidy, though Seidenberg did admit he doesn't mind the heavy workload.
"Every time a D goes down, guys have to pick up those minutes, and just try to make up for the loss," Seidenberg said. "For the most part, the more you play, the more comfortable you feel and the more into the game you feel."
Hnidy will likely get a chance to find out for himself in Game 3.
