Thomas unmasked/By S. Bradley
Tim Thomas set a single-season record for save percentage this season and should take home his second Vezina Trophy in three years later this month.
He’s endured some ups and downs in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, but nonetheless carried the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup Final berth since 1990.
Yet now that the Bruins are down 0-2 to Vancouver in the best-of-seven series, with Game 3 scheduled for Boston’s TD Garden Monday, he’s supposed to change the way he plays.
So says many attending media members who probably haven’t watched more than a handful of Bruins games all season and are still offended that an American who didn’t establish himself as No. 1 goaltender until his mid-30s could suddenly become the league’s most dominant netminder– even ahead of their precious Roberto Luongo and Carey Price.
After the Bruins dropped Game 2 Saturday night, everyone available in the Bruins’ dressing room was asked about Thomas’ style because he had come out to challenge Alex Burrows and was out of position on the goal. He’d left the blue paint a couple times earlier and was helped by the quick sticks of his defensemen preventing defensemen. In Game 1, he had drawn a penalty on Burrows from a couple feet out of the net.
Today the topic came up again, and he diplomatically shot the question down.
“No. I have a pretty good idea of how to play goalie. I’m not going to be taking suggestions or advice at this time,” he said with his Cheshire Cat grin prominently displayed. “I’m just going to keep playing the way I have.”
Thomas might’ve been on his stomach at the opposite post when Burrows scored the game-winning goal Saturday, but he was far from the biggest culprit in Boston’s losing of the third-period lead and then the game 11 seconds into overtime.
Andrew Ference and Zdeno Chara bear the brunt of the blame for that play, not to mention the plethora of other miscues.
When Thomas stopped Daniel Sedin’s breakaway and Jannik Hansen’s point-blank chance earlier in the game, no one was criticizing his style. When he was shutting out Tampa Bay in a Game 7 and winning an overtime thriller in Game 7 against Montreal in the first round, no one asked him if he should stay in his crease.
It’s amazing how perceptions can change just by introducing some fresh eyes and putting a player on the game’s biggest stage.
If this Bruins lose this series in four games, or more, Tim Thomas and his style will be way down the list of reasons why. He has the record and the highlight-reel saves to prove that.
PCL,
Yes I am a totally useless troll who has nothing better to harass and critique Bruins and their fans. I guess I can’t be a fan cause I eat breathe and live hockey like the thousands in our city.
I guess I can’t create or help the media dissect your team with whats wrong. PP, chara minutes, clutch grab clutch grab slow the game down type of approach to our open it up hockey that has this city abuzz? Iguess it’s bad to help create doubt on here about your team?
Don’t worry I will stop in three games and leave you alone for awhile. I know versus nbc and everyone have written off your Bruins. It’s tough the truth hurts that you are ever so close but yet so far
So what if he got you here. He can’t be making stupid plays like that. Its one thing to challenge but another to be so out of position that you even blocked Chara.
Thomas has to be great, Greasy Lou just has to be average.
Thats the difference & thats why the Canucks are up 2-0.
There are plenty of others besides Chara. One could argue Ference had his worst game of the playoffs
Great post, and sad its even necessary. Timmy is the number one reason the Bruins are in the finals. I blame every single player on the team before I blame Timky for either loss.
And PCL, I completely agree. I didn’t realize so many Trolls lived in Vancouver.
Chara was the problem in game 2 (all game long), not Timmy. I hope Chara snaps out of it for tonights’ game. 1 hit in 28+ minutes? WTF is up with that?
Yeah, this is pretty dumb. Only a total moron would give TT any grief at this point.
Spot on MK. Great post. I’m so sick of hearing the “experts” on NBC, Versus, and the recent bandwagon commenters and fans talk about his aggressive style and how it’s hurting this team. They wouldn’t be where they are today w/o it.
On another note, I can’t wait for these hoser trolls to vacate this blog. They’re ruining an otherwise great little corner of the interwebs. I can’t imagine how pointless, uneventful, and utterly useless ones life has to be, that they would feel vindicated by or generate pleasure from posting nonsensical gibberish on a rivals team’s blog. But “it takes all kinds” I guess, so roll on with you douche baggery, mouth breathers.
Timmy’s style had progressed tremendously from 2 years ago when he was in the corner of the rink on his back every save. He was in control this year, most of the time, but it seems he’s regressed a bit these last couple games. Probably nerves, I expect him to be the first star tonight.
Thomas is an all or nothing goalie. He’ll make highlight reel saves but sometimes he’ll look foolish. He’s a high risk style but right now, his timing is excellent and he’s spectacular. It wont be pretty when his timing goes though. He’s not exactly built to have pucks hit him like some of the bigger goalies.
Great article matt. Ridiculous that it even has to be written.
Thomas did great all along. I mean really, nobody can argue with this. I don’t mind his style if it works and it has been.
I’ve noticed that he doesn’t play the puck as much, and that is a good thing by me cause it seems to create more confusion in our end when he does.
The fresh ice didn’t help…. Recchi being 42 should know this…. But Hell, he wanted to score right off the center line face off. Who can blame him for trying…
It Could be 2-0 for the B’s though. It’s not like we are being outclassed.
Thomas’ strength as a goalis is really in his style. That it at times leaves some parts of the net vulnerable are a fact, but it is that athletic, aggressive style that makes him hard to play against.
I think this is probably the one mind game where the Canucks have attacked through the media and have gotten the media to play along. Not sure that kind of mind game works on Thomas though-can’t blame them for trying.
I completely agree-this year without Thomas this team goes out somewhere before the ECF-Tim Thomas is why this team is here and unlike any other goalie in the league he often steals games when the team in front of him isn’t at their best. The problem here is that the Canucks are a good team-they are fast and they have shooters and their skill makes it hard for Thomas to steal a game, but he has kept the games close.
‘Doubting Thomases’ in Bean town, eh!?
Snerd
Some people thought Timmy was leaving the ice quickly after the game, ’cause he was upset over the OT, 11 sec., goal. Not so. He just over-shot his recovery!
Snerd
Thomas went out at Burrows and the two made contact which pushed Thomas further out of net., not to mention that was fresh OT ice he was sliding on. Tim Thomas is the engine that brought the Bruins train to the Stanley Cup. I’m not about to complain if he has a squeaky wheel.