Thomas/By S. Bradley
VANCOUVER — Last season the Chicago Blackhawks captured the Stanley Cup with a somewhat anonymous Antti Niemi between the pipes to defeat the pedestrian Brian Boucher/Michael Leighton combo for Philadelphia.
Numerous teams spent last summer solidifying their rosters but leaving the goaltending to guys with lesser pedigrees. That might change now that this year’s Stanley Cup Final competitors both boast Vezina Trophy finalists.
The Bruins’ Tim Thomas and Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo will both be in the spotlight starting with tomorrow night’s Game 1 at the Rogers Arena.
“History shows both sides of that,” said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli at today’s media day. “Sometimes teams try to copy the Stanley Cup finalists the following year, subsequent years. We’ve seen teams before without star goaltenders win Cups. Tim is a terrific goaltender and he’s a clutch goaltender. He’s won championships before [in Finland].
“I wouldn’t call last year a fluke. I think you’ll probably see itagain at some point. You’re going to be more certain to have a proven goaltender. I think history will show that also.”
Chiarelli showed his philosophy on the matter when he rewarded Thomas with a five-year contract worth $5 million per season in the spring of 2009, just before Thomas won his first Vezina.
Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis showed he shares the same philosophy when he locked up Luongo with a 12-year deal worth a little more than $5 million per, starting this season.
“I still feel Roberto, no disrespect to Tim because he’s a great goaltender, but we felt that Roberto was the best goaltender in the league,” said Gillis. “There were some things that we needed to change. We made a commitment to him as our No. 1 goaltender for long-term because we felt that way. We watch him practice every day. We watch his work ethic. We watch his dedication to the game. We felt at the time and continue to feel that he’s the best goaltender in the league.
“I know how it started, but I don’t know how you win in this league without great goaltending. I don’t know how you get in the playoffs without great goaltending and I don’t know how you win.”
Luckily for the Bruins and Canucks, they don’t have to try to answer Gillis’ question.
BBD, as usual, if you’ve got nothin but hate, you’re never going to get the facts straight.
Tim Thomas is the better goalie in my opinion but Luongo stopped 34 of 36 shots to beat the USA 3-2 in overtime. To say he got the gold medal strictly because of the people in front of him is either dishonest or plain ignorant. He earned his medal.
If anyone was disappointing at the olympics and seemed to struggle carrying his weight, it was Chris Pronger.
TIMMY, U DA MAN !!!!! Great guy great goalie. Please don’t put his name on the same line as the cry baby from Quebec.He got a gold medal cause of the people in front of him.
When Luongo was pulled or didn’t get the start, he was in the locker room watching on a T.V. The upside of dealing with a headcase like him is that he is easy to screw with. That’s why he was scratched, and their GM can’t be honest. If we get in his head like Chicago did during game 4, we win. Lucic better be ready for it, because that should be his job.
I’ve heard those close to the ‘Nucks talk about Luongo’s personality. “Personality” is the code word for A-hole.
MG – I’ve thought this could have bearing should we get to games 6 and 7. Good comment and right on.
Amazing to think how many teams on the cusp could have had Timmah…. I was plugging to trade him for Carter myself. Oh, the shame.
Sorry Tank.
Well, I think it would be obvious that Gillis would support his own guy. I mean they’ve invested their future in Luongo and have to pump this guy up for the series.
Head to head, I think Tim Thomas is the better goalie this season. Tim might be inconsistent at times but Luongo is even more inconsistent. You always wonder when he’s going to collapse whereas with Thomas, you feel a bit more confident he’s going to save the puck.
I wouldn’t worry about Tim Thomas, the key for Boston will be to stay out of the box no matter what happens on the ice.
“But dad, he slashed me. Of course I had to take a bad penalty”
“Not when the Stanley cup is on the line you don’t”
No offense to Tuukka-who I think will eventually be an excellent starting goalie-but I think there is a reason this team generally plays much better in front of Thomas.
Luongo is a good and capable goalie, but he doesn’t seem to have the drive that Thomas does.
The Bruins rally around Tim, not so sure its the same with Luongo and the canucks.
If I could describe Luongo in one word it would be “phony”. That ego needs a lot of stroking.
With all respect to Mike Gillis… let’s be serious. Luongo is okay, but Timmy has more heart in his big left toe than Luongo has in his entire body. Timmy had the work ethic and dedication to continue to work towards the NHL even when he failed to crack a lineup for years. Timmy bounced back from offseason hip surgery to put together a season that will win him the Vezina. That Luongo even made the cut for the Vezina finalists over Lundqvist and Price is an absolute joke.
Mike Gillis is apparently clueless, and Alain Vigineault is a smug little pisser. You can see it in his face in every press conference.
LESS THAN 24 HOURS BABY. LET’S GOOOOOO