Thomas/By S. Bradley
VANCOUVER — You can’t accuse Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo of being ignorant of some of the media themes in the Stanley Cup Final.
Seemingly from Game 1 on, there’s been a lot of talk about Tim Thomas playing outside of the Bruins’ crease. Tonight that style might’ve cost the presumptive Vezina Trophy winner, according to Luongo.
Max Lapierre played a Kevin Bieksa shot off the end wall and fired a shot from the goal line off Thomas and in at Rogers Arena for the lone goal in Vancouver’s 1-0 Game 5 victory, which put them up 3-2 in the series heading to Boston for Game 6.
Lapierre said it was a lucky bounce.
“It’s not hard if you’re playing in the paint. It’s an easy save for me, but if you’re wandering out and aggressive like he does, that’s going to happen,” said Luongo of Thomas. “He might make some saves that I won’t, but in a case like that, we want to take advantage of a bounce like that and make sure we’re in a good position to bury those.”
Canucks coach Alain Vigneault made it sound like there was a mix of luck and skill on the play.
“He does play out, and their Ds do block shots,” said Vigneault. “Sometimes all you have is a short-side shot. I think that’s what Kevin had right there. It took a bounce the right way, right to the other side. Max was able to find the back of the net.”
He found the back of the net, and now the Canucks find themselves one win from the Cup.
[...] the diving to the dirty little hacks and slashes to the ugliness of both their players faces and Luongo’s inept words towards Tim Thomas and to their fan’s fickle whining and unfounded entitlement, besides a fancy power play there [...]
[...] Vancouver netminder was asked today if he regrets having made those comments, and he basically didn’t want to think about it much [...]
I didn’t need reading comprehension to understand the arrogance that is Luongo. I watched the comments in the interview and the question wasn’t even asking Luongo to compare styles. The question asked was how hard it is to make a save when a puck bounces off the end boards like that.
Luongo chose to compare styles and chose to bring Thomas into it. I think Luongo though is one of those people who often feel entitled and special. Thomas’ road to excellence didn’t involve anything being handed to him-he had to work and fight his way to where he is now. I think in general Thomas carries an air of humility about him-and once again-if Luongo wants to see how you make comments on the other goaltender-he should listen to Thomas’ comments about Roloson after Tampa lost the conference title.
I would also like to pose a question to the Canadian born fans that come to this blog – why is it that you come to do nothing but bitch? There have been a few of you that have been great, but is there really that little to do up in Canadia that you spend your time whining on here?
For the most part, the Tampa Bay fans that came here were pretty good in my opinion. Jon Jordan was knowledgeable and gave plenty of solid, insightful points. I don’t think we had any Philly fans come around, but the Montreal and Canucks fans? Jesus Christ. You guys need to get your own forums or something. I can’t take the constant circle jerk that revolves around how dirty you think the Bruins play.
Let’s just put the shoe on the other foot here for a second. If Thomas was to say anything like that about Luongo, half of the Canucks team would be crying foul, the fan base would come on our forums and bitch (even more than right now) and Elaine Vaginault would be making early morning phone calls to the NHL questioning the legality of Thomas’ comments.
But, it’s not the Bruins. Seeing as they are the only team in the league capable of being ‘dirty’ (Chara attempted to murder someone, you know) there is no way that Luongo meant it to be a shot at Thomas. No. Freaking. Way. It was taken out of context, and on top of that, Luongo plays for Vancouver. They just score goals, guys. They don’t do anything dirty.
[...] winger Brad Marchand figures that Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo’s post-Game 5 comments about Thomas’ missing of the … in that game is just another part of the Canucks’ psychological assault on their [...]
Thomas has outplayed Luongo this season and in this series.
Also, I’m pretty sure Thomas is mature enough to know that Luongo might have saved this one but maybe Thomas might have saved some of the 14 Luongo let in.
Thomas will probably never be arrogant when you consider he spent the first half of his career playing for hotdogs in swiss league, or getting shellacked in the international hockey league.
Sigh. Why is this a story?
As mentioned, Lou is comparing styles. He said THOMAS WOULD MAKE SAVES HE WOULD NOT. How is he being arrogant? Lou said he could make this save easier but Thomas would make other saves, based on his aggresive style. I think its a pretty good assessment of what happened right?
I don’t get how everything is being portrayed negatively against this Canucks this series. I am not saying they are angels but its hockey! Both teams are slashing, talking smack, getting annoyed with the media etc etc.
For example, go look at Thomas’ interview last night about the goal. First he says something along the lines of he doesn’t know what Maxim’s name is, implying he is a nobody. Second he gives Maxim no credit for scoring saying it was a horrible shot etc etc. That isn’t disrespectful? But the media loves Thomas and just ignores this. But seriously. WHO CARES. They are being interviewed after a game where they put out their heart and soul and are getting asked dumb ass questions over and over and over. All athletes are confident/cocky in their abilities. They need to be in order to become stars. 90% they give a canned answer, but sometimes it slips and they say something maybe 5% out of the ordinary and get grilled. It is rediculous.
This is completely a non-story. Lou has been pretty complimentary of Thomas throughout the series and to jump on 1/2 of a quote, and ignoring the part which is complientary, to say he is being arrogant is rediculous.
Also, as an aside, why does Lou get NO CREDIT for any wins but all the blame for the losses. He just shut out the Bruins AGAIN and people on this board are saying its just the team in front of him. Due to Thomas’ style which involves moving around alot, coming forward, being aggresive, a lot more of his saves look spectacular. Lou is more about being in position and being big in net. What he does will always look less spectacular. But he is still effective isn’t he? He is saving the same chances, just in a less spectatular looking fashion. And is getting grilled somehow? He makes grade A saves look easy. Isn’t that a good thing? Not saying this is even people in Boston but in Vancouver too. This guy just doesn’t get a fair shake. Look at his stats. Year in and year out he is a top 5 goalie in the NHL. Guys come and go. He has been consistant. Even Thomas, who had an amazing year obviously and is having a great series/playoffs, lost his job last year and 3-5 years ago no one knew him.
Annnnnnnnd rant over.
… The refs *do* decide it if they ‘let them play’ and let as less skilled team like the Bruins try and hack their way to a cup. If its a penalty they have to call it– otherwise may as well just have a brawl for the cup. I predict van’s pp wins it for them monday.
I simply can’t believe that Luongo’s comments are even an issue. At the risk of offending sensitive Americans, I’d have to question a lot of people’s reading comprehension. ‘It’s not hard if you’re playing in the paint.’ WOW! OUTRAGEOUS! He may has well have said the grass is green or the sky is blue. I don’t know why he even bothered saying something that any hockey fan already knows.
‘He might make some saves that I won’t.’ WOW! Can you believe the arrogance of THAT statement? Let’s all take a deep breath and calm down and see that statement for what it is.
As a Canuck fan I have been very impressed with Thomas in this series and, in fact, all season. While I certainly wouldn’t want to teach a kid to play that style, his compete level is off the charts. He may be the only Bruin that I wouldn’t be too upset to see hold the Cup over his head. But if any of you could be at all objective you would see that both goalies are great in their own ways and they are both classy.
No one would ever take Luongo over Thomas. He has outplayed and outclassed Luongo. No debate.
Well after watching the question and answer-I am even more convinced that it is Luongo being arrogant.
The question wasn’t even about Thomas but about stopping shots that bounce of the end boards at weird angles. All he had to say was “they can be tough, but because of how I play the net, they usually are pretty routine stops for me” and that would be that. No reference to Thomas needed at all.
I think Luongo is a decent goalie-but agree he is the kind of goalie that can give a team playing well the ability to win, but he doesn’t steal games. Thomas is the kind of goalie that in general can steal games even when the team in front of him isn’t playing that well.
That’s why Thomas is going to win another Vezina and why he is the very likely top candidate for the Conn Smythe and I think this might be a win or lose thing because looking at this series there isn’t really anyone standing out for the Canucks. Krejci is having a good series and Horton was. Seids maybe. But I don’t think any of the Canucks have been consistent enough through three series to win.
Luongo has to be kidding. Let’s see…he’s given up 14 goals so far, and he’s giving advice to the eventual Conn Smythe winner? That’s hysterical! Thomas has been a brick wall. We saw how frustrated the Canucks are since they can’t buy a goal. Thomas has only allowed two goals in the last three games! Vancuver has barely escaped with wins ineach of their three home games. Their luck will run out in Game 7. Seriously, Luongo? If I have up 12 goals in two games, I’d keep my mouth shut!
Steamer, are you F–king serious? Whining? Look in the mirror, the only whining I hear is your coach your GM, your city, your entire country.
Always knew Canadians were a soft bunch of douches with nothing going for them then a game of hockey.
Any NBA, NFL teams in Vancouver?
Yeah, total Jekyll & Hyde hockey from us. We’ve lost 3 one-goal games, any of which, we could have easily won (but didn’t so kudos) and then made you look like the Vancouver Giants on our ice. I think you should just shhhhhhhh. You’re starting to sound like your overrated goalie.
PS. I’m Canadian. This guy is a backstopper. He never wins you a game. I said that last year even after we won the Olympics, after watching him be outplayed by pretty much every goalie we faced, win or lose. Thankfully we won because we have the best players in the world on our squad. I’m also starting to be REALLY thankful that Timmy wasn’t at 100% then too cause I don’t think I’d still be getting chills watching re-runs of Crosby’s goal over and over again.
Exactly RD and George…
The press had nothing spectacular or front page worthy so they print this drivel
Tanev.. rookie… pay him ballards salary
The Lapierre, higgins, torres has been missing this series… I believe that higgins has been the unsung hero of this cup run… God hate to see Lapierre do that to the Bruins, LOL we got anymore ex habs…
You’re right that they lead the series, but I’m Glad you did not try to defend their actions Steamer
Lapierre is an enigmatic player. He had 15 goals a couple years back, then disappeared.
He has ability for more than getting on people’s nerves.
As for the Luongo quote, you guys are just raging over nonsense.
He’s just talking about style. If he were trying to say he was better, he would not have said this:
“He might make some saves that I won’t”
Steamer, I was impressed that Tanev played better than Ballard. Lapierre looked like a completely different player out there, confident with the puck and helping out defensively.
JJ,
I never blamed Luo for any of the losses. A lot of press and even some fans were trying to create a controversy over who to start. I never lost faith in him.
As for the ice. So slush mush, is better than normal ice…..
We coming to your house, we want the cup. I hope its a good clean game so I won`t hear any whining going on.
Typical Canucks fans & player. When they are losing they point the blame to Greasy Lou. When they win the give Greasy Lou his piece of cake.
I can’t stand this little douche & any of the Van team. Bruins let this one slip with their soft play.
& by the way ice in Van wasn’t that great either.
NHL has got to stop this June nonsense!!!!!
MCK.
I”d be more worried about which team skates in front of him. Home ice advantage has been huge… At least the refs got most calls right last night except for Chara/Kessler interference. The game had way more flow
He will play like the bitch he is and he will choke this series away, again
Divers biters running into players sticks? yeah it is a disgrace to up 3-2 in a series. Your Bruins are as much Jekyl and Hyde as Luongo goaltending skills. Luongo gets chewed up in the press by other teams fans and even by some so called home fans…That was a round about saying FU all you naysayers Kudos to him….. We’ll see what he plays like in Boston
I agree with TCL, MCK & Steve M. Luongo should not be giving advice on how to tend goal. If Tim Tom wanted to he could instruct Luongo on how to stop shots to the glove side, but is a classy professional.
And VanMike – Long Trail baby, no cheap beer here! Even with Bud Lite, have you seen the prices?
Seriously, bite me ok. Your team is a disgrace. Biting, diving, running into players sticks and flopping yourself over another players stick at a faceoff to try to get calls, in the Stanley Cup Finals? Go ahead and defend that.
There are a handful of players on your Vancouver Sea Turtles who really are not worthy of having their names on the Cup, so I’m hoping the Hockey Gods have their eyes on this series and have a dramatic finish in mind. I’m looking forward to seeing if the Vancouver fans can be classier than their players and give the B’s a nice ovation when Chara skates the Cup around their rink.
Why is this series so different depending on where it is played? This isn’t basketball where the already subjective reffing is automatically swayed to the home team. There’s no way the fan cheering “Let’s Go Bruins/Canucks” makes that much of a difference.
I think it’s Julien doing. It looks like he worries more about the matchups when the Van Sea Turtles are the home team. When they’re in the Gahden, Claude rolls all four lines, to some degree. Each shift starts with 3 eager and angry bears jumping over the boards with less concern about who is out for VAN. Is Claude changing his approach too much? It could have been the penalties that kept them from getting the lines rolling, but they overcame that in the home games, so why such a different approach? That’s allowed those two games to be played the way Vancouver wants.
Gotta love a guy who gave up 12 goals in two games giving the better goaltender advice on how to stop pucks.
MCK I think you are right about Conn Smythe. Win or lose the man who has played out of his mind has been Thomas. I can’t think of a single player for the Canucks who stands out as an MVP-almost all their games have been a one man’s lucky goal somewhere in the final minutes. The Sedin’s were absent against everyone but SJ, Kesler was absent other than against Nashville.
Thomas has been out of his mind spectacular and in some games it has been pretty clear that his play kept the Bruins in the game to get the victory.
Shoot as far as MVP’s go the top three players who contributed the most through out the series I think would be Bruins-Krejci (yes he was absent in the first round, but the guy is currently the leader in pts for the play offs) and Horton (who won’t be scoring anymore points but has been clutch in all the important games).
I just so bad want the B’s to pull the next two wins off. Yes they may get another opportunity, but they also may not get it-the time is now and they need to play their butts off to seize it.
Too many passengers again last night. Again, the Bruins have to be hitting to be playing their best and for some reason they can’t seem to do it in Vancouver. They gotta come out firing on all cylinders and force a game 7. One more chance to get it right in Vancouver.
This is why I can’t stand Luongo. He’s an arrogant jerk. I’ve known that for years. Total A-hole.
I like cheap beer
Whatever the context, Luongo shouldn’t be giving advice on netminding, especially to TT, who probably should winn the Conn Smythe even if they lose the cup
Kesler should have gone to the box for high sticking not interference. And high stick is a high stick and it doesn’t matter if you are tied up with another player or not.
That said Luongo should have probably taken a pass on answering a question like that. It just stinks of arrogance and arrogance coming from a guy who just gave up 12 goals in two games doesn’t look good-even if he really thinks he would have had that goal.
I am pretty sure Luongo let some by that Thomas would have stopped, but I don’t remember Thomas saying “yeah, I would have stopped all those.”
If Luongo wants to discuss the other goaltender-perhaps he should watch Thomas’ interview after the game 7 win against Tampa. Thomas had only praise for Roloson.
The bruins need to be physical and keep at it regardless of the penalties they draw playing the way they strive as a group.
It’s the Stanley Cup finals, the ref’s number one nightmare is to have a say in deciding who wins it. IMO, there is no harm from a bruins perspective to play the bruins way no matter what comes along with it. The refs do not want to become a decisive factor.
They will take guys out in pairs well before they do.
This quote actually sounds a lot better and has more context than most tweets I saw trying to whip up a frenzy (hi Haggs).
Vancouver is Seatle with metrics and higher taxes. And a loudmouth for a goalie.
This Luongo quote is in all the the CN and USA hockey sites. I guess their all “taking it out of context” Luongo is pretty proud of himself tonight but as we all know, one game at a time. He may end up eating those words.
Can’t really complain about officiating in that game. Burrows got a diving call, hell, Chara hit Thomas and Kessler went to the box for it.
Vanmike, don’t poke the bears. They are going to be mighty angry when they wake up tomorrow.
Such a weird series for Luongo. 2 shutouts and 2 shelackings.
The Bruins just need to play their game. From my perspective, from the couch, i feel like the Bruins need to stick to their game and play hard hockey. There are to many variables that come into play on any given night. . . like the officiating. As a proud Canadian who loves the game of hockey and has given blood sweat and tears to the sport, nothing makes my blood boil more than the absolutely embarassing diving to draw a penalty some players feel the need to make during every play. The obviously bias CBC broadcasters downplay the amount
of acting happening on behalf of the Canucks. I think this directly effects the play of the Bruins. Instead of going hard all the time, they appear apprehensive
I think this absolutely effects the play of the Bruins
and the intensity of the game. If the Canucks happen to win the Stanley Cup, they can contribute their success to poor acting where as the Bruins have been playing the hard nose, gritty hockey they are known for. Hopefully Monday night the officials let the guys play and may the best team win. Go Bruins !
Gotta hand it to MK. He knows his audience. A bunch of uneducated inbred rednecks. The quotes in this article are taken completely out of context, but bruin fans will lap it up like cheap beer. Your sniveling and half-truths won’t help the bruins. Enjoy watching us skate away with the Cup!
Didn’t think I could hate Vancouver any more…until reading this.