Thomas/By S. Bradley

BOSTON — With Vancouver head coach Alain Vigneault seemingly talking about Tim Thomas’ outside-the-crease play than anything else, it can be confusing what the coach is getting at as far as what’s legal and not for the Bruins netminder.

Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli today confirmed that Thomas doesn’t have to do anything different, or at least that’s what the league has told him.

“What was said to me is that it’s a non-issue,” said Chiarelli about an hour before the Bruins played Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Canucks. “Tim’s an aggressive goalie and he plays outside the crease. You’ve seen he’s not going to change his style.”

Chiarelli alluded to this whole storyline being part of some gamesmanship on the part of Vigneault and the Canucks. Can’t say I disagree.