Tim Thomas On Vezina Pace Again
Boston (CBS) - Mr. Vezina, your trophy please.
Tim Thomas had a season high 43 saves Tuesday night in Carolina, as the Bruins swept their home-and-home series against the Hurricanes.
With his glove, or with his stick. On the ground, or flying through the air. These days it is tough to get the puck passed the Bruins netminder.
Thomas is no stranger to end-of-season hardware. He took home the Vezina Trophy in 2009 after posting a 36-11-7 record with a .933 save percentage. This season, he has a chance to eclipse those numbers.
Through 32 starts (and one appearance off the bench) Thomas has 22 of the Bruins 26 wins and has kept an eye popping 94 percent of shots from finding the back of the net. He picked up his NHL leading seventh shutout of the season Monday afternoon in the Bruins 7-0 rout of Carolina in front of an ecstatic Boston crowd.
Compare this season to 2009 through 32 games, and Thomas is on his way to an even better season.
2008/09: 23-5-5, .934 save percentage, three shutouts, nine games with 35-plus saves
2010/11: 22-4-6, .944 save percentage, seven shutouts, 10 games with 35-plus saves
This season he already has three 40-plus save games, the same amount he had all of 2009.
What some saw as a hot start has become another masterpiece of a season for the 35-year-old Vermont native. His final brush stroke should be another Vezina for his mantle.
Bruins fans are hoping it is joined by a Stanley Cup too.
