Thomas/By S. Bradley
BOSTON — Right now, Bruins head coach Claude Julien isn’t foolish enough to stop riding the hot hand of Tim Thomas.
And tonight the veteran netminder rewarded the bench boss’s faith with a 38-save victory over the Washington Capitals in Boston’s home-opener.
“You know when a goaltender’s in the zone, you want to ride him,” said Julien about giving the nod to Thomas over Tuukka Rask. “And I think the way he played [Tuesday] night in Washington, coming back with him was important because they knew what they were going to face. He didn’t give them much in [D.C.] and I thought maybe mentally it was giving us an edge also. And he proved us right tonight. He was outstanding tonight.”
Here’s what Thomas, who has now won four in a row, had to say about his performance:
Boston is back in action Saturday against the New York Rangers. Will Julien stick with Thomas or give Rask his first start since opening day?
“We’ll see,” said the the coach.
I know its still early to say anything but I am liking the way the B´s are playing so far. If we keep up like this we are more then contenders this year. And how about Tim Thomas? It´s hard to say how well this guy is playing right now. Yesterday he reminded me of Hasek on his Detroit days. Thomas deserves it.
“And I think the way he played [Tuesday] night in Washington, coming back with him was important because they knew what they were going to face. He didn’t give them much in [D.C.] and I thought maybe mentally it was giving us an edge also…”
Well there goes my theory from yesterdays goalie post. Very glad I was wrong.
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I couldn’t be more thrilled with the way the season has started for Timmy. Tonight’s game was as special as they get. After all he has been through, after all the negative talk that has surrounded him for the past 9 months or so, it was like watching a man re-born. I know I’m biased, but even his mistake tonight seemed more like that of an over-eager kid to me than someone struggling with their self confidence. He, and the whole team, seem to be filled with an energy and drive that was missing last season. I know it’s only 5 games into the new season, but everyone there tonight seemed to sense that this season is going to be special.
That said, I said, I’ll be shocked if Tuukka doesn’t start on Saturday. Timmy may be on fire, but Tuukka has more than earned the right to play too.