Thomas/By S. Bradley
BOSTON — He had already faced 40 shots on goal, including 25 in the third, so Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas had to know that there would be another one coming once Alexander Ovechkin got a hold of David Krejci’s inexplicable blind cross-ice pass in the closing moments of tonight’s game.
Anticipation helped Thomas make his 39th and last save in a wild 3-2 win at TD Garden.
“Yeah, as soon as David pushed it that way I pretty much knew that it was going to be me and Ovie,” said Thomas after he beat the Capitals for third time this season. “But whoever was back checking on him [Dennis Seidenberg] actually forced him to not be able to totally cut across the middle and not really get to his forehand to get a good shot off. That’s what really helped make that save there. I don’t know who it was, but it was actually good defensive play under the circumstances.”
It was a rare good defensive play by anyone not named Tim Thomas in the third period, which featured the Caps outshooting Boston, 26-2.
“I wasn’t over thinking it for some reason,” said Thomas of the workload. “I was just kind of playing it like practice. I didn’t really notice there was all that much work. I was just kind of going with the flow. Sometimes that’s what happens, and sometimes that can make it easier.”
Thomas is now 15-3-3 with a .951 save percentage and 1.65 goals-against average.
Not encouraging at all. I am sure there are some here who will say, “well, they won,” and think that everything is ok. Another 1 period effort from the black and gold.
I completely agree Aaron. Thomas is winning games by himself. If Julien’s system doesnt cut the shot totals by almost 50%, there are going to be problems. They can’t give up over 30 shots per game if they are going to run such a passive offensive scheme. You would think with raw offensive talent on this team that Julien would let a couple of the players run wild on offense.
“The 26-2 shots is not as disturbing as it looks”? Yikes, Kyle I get what you’re saying, but there is nothing positive about a 26-2 disadvantage in shots in a period. Julien lives and dies by his defensive system, a system which is routinely giving up 40+ shots per game (and now occassionally 26 in a period), including a large number of excellent scoring chances which thankfully Thomas has been able to stop.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for the 2 points, but I’ve been happier with games where the team has been beat soundly but played a solid 50+ minutes of hockey.
Since about the 3rd week of the season, this team has managed to salvage wins despite poor efforts, thanks to excellent goaltending, and its progressively gotten worse.
Something needs to be done to get them back in the right direction, win or lose. Because if Thomas were to get injured, this team would nose dive.
I don’t think that it’s the players choice to take the foot off of the gas. As Rommel650 points out with his comment, it has more to do the the coach and the system then it does the players coasting, IMO. Especially, when you see it in starting to happen in the second frame.
I recognize that they won. Maybe they peak come the spring, maybe. Having lost the last two seasons on home ice in game 7s in the second round, you would think this team would play with a little more urgency. That’s all. They coast a lot. They lost three in a row because of it.
Their play had better greatly improve in the new year. The playoff hunt and the playoffs have no place for teams that limp through 40-45 minutes of each game.
They have the talent to win it all, but I don’t see the effort. They have won several games this season while playing poorly and maybe they think they can get away with it.
I hope they snap out of it and play all their games the way they play the 1st period against the Caps.
Yeah, I’m just going to go with the positives here for fear of being too negative after a win. We’ve taken the season series 3-1 vs Washington, while continually proving we can still find ways to win without a solid 60 minute effort. I look forward to what we can do with 3 periods of 110%. If it’s 3x that first period, I may have to move down there and find a nice little place somewhere on the parade route.
I know this win was a little sour, but good teams win some ugly ones… And that was definitely ugly.
I know you are saying MCK but they DID win, and that IS all that matters. Next game is next game. They got the two points and they needed them. The 26-2 shots is not as disturbing as it looks. Lot of throw it on net and desperate shots while the B’s just sat back in a prevent d, which at the end of the day worked.
Not encouraging at all. I am sure there are some here who will say, “well, they won,” and think that everything is ok. Another 1 period effort from the black and gold.
nice, claude. i hope you give timmah an xmas card. outshot 26 to 2 in the 3rd period.
When the Coach holds the 3rd forward out of the offensive zone for the last 40min it’s pretty hard to keep the pressure on.
Are these guys incapable of a 60-minute effort??? This is annoying.