It seems like ages ago that after winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in 39 years “they pour on to celebrate with Tim Thomas their heroic goaltender” (Doc Emeric NBC). Yet in truth that gleeful day was only a mere 3 years ago. It seems like ages ago that Timmy dove to rob Marten St Louis in game seven of the 2011 conference finals yet in truth that was only 2 weeks before he won the cup in that same season 3 years ago.
Yet now after the ups and down of one of the most storied seasons in NHL history, Tim Thomas Jr is now nothing more than a distant memory. After all that has transpired, Bergeron’s epic clincher in game seven of the Toronto series, the excruciating pain of Chicago’s game six comeback in the Cup Finals. After so much triumph yet so many days of doubt and distaste, a new era of Boston goaltenders has been ushered in. Thomas is gone, but now no one really notices. In 2011 and 2012, fans would rise to their feet and scream “THOMAS!” now when a man, whose face lies shrouded behind the plastic and foam restraint of a goalie mask, when he robs an opposing shooter, the 17,000 faithful fans of their beloved Boston hockey team rise to their feet and yell “TUUUUUUKKA!”
Born 2 years after the Bruins won the cup in 1972, the only time Thomas saw the Bruins win the Stanley Cup was from the blue paint of the Rodgers center as he was a member of that historic team. Nevertheless, Thomas spent 6 years prior to that 2011 win with the Bruins as even though he was drafted by the Avalanche, his low status in the draft meant that he was transferred to the Bruins before he ever played in the Colorado Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques system.
Nevertheless, through those 6 years of Bruins goal-tending all mighty Timmy won the Vesna not once but twice, as he went 196-121-45 through 378 career regular season games. Yet once the calendar flipped into 2012 Thomas seemed to throw all that down the drain all with a slew of controversy and strange habits. Less than 23 days after the first day in 2012 Thomas skipped on the traditional visit to the white house following a cup win stating.
"I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People. This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government. Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL. This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT"
From that point on, Thomas was never the same as over the course of that quick 7 game exit at the hands of the Capitals he allowed 16 goals with a less then Thomas like 2.14 GAA. And that was not even all of it. Less than 2 weeks after the Joel Ward goal that eliminated the Bruins from playoff contention Thomas announced via Facebook that he planned to sit out the entire duration of this 2012-2013 NHL season.
So here was his chance, Tuukka Rask who had been waiting in the wings ever since his 2010 Bruins were bounced in the second round after the Flyers epic 3-0 series comeback, was going to be the starter yet as the lockout dragged on questions began to develop. “Is Tuukka Rask really the starter the Bruins need?” Nevertheless those questions soon evaporated as Rask dominated his opponents going 7 and 1 in the month of February playing 8 of his best games of his career that month. Yet from then on, Rask seemed to flop as he among the rest of his team literally fell apart in the ensuing month of March, going 4 and 7 allowing 24 goals and a less than perfect GAA of 2.18.
Yet much like he did to start the year, once the Bruins got out of the first round and marched into their second round Rangers series Rask literally set the league on fire as with the exception of a game 4 OT loss, Rask allowed just 6 goals through 4 games. Yet even then people still questioned Tuukka’s starting ability and while you could make that strange case then, Rask made anyone who doubted him look foolish as he and his team marched through the Conference Finals allowing just two goals against and posting not one but 2 shutouts.
It seemed the largest blemish in Rask’s spectacular postseason was when it mattered most. In that pivotal game 4 match-up in the cup finals, Rask allowed 6 goals against all in a game that should it have ended with a Boston win would have put Rask and company just one win away from winning the cup.
Fact is the bruins fell just 2 wins short of winning the cup this year and even when they watched tears welling in their eye’s as Chicago celebrated their 5thChampionship in franchise history Bruins fans finally realized that these gut wrenching loses were not to be pinned on the likes of “Tuuuuukka”. Instead mighty Rask must be praised for what he did for the Bruins as without his calming presence on the back end, there is no way on earth these Boston Bruins would have done what they have these playoffs.
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