Boston Bruins' Tim Thomas: From Vezina to Lackluster to Vezina?

Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas has had a lot of people shaking their heads.

"Where did he come from?"  That question is being posed as he played a Vezina-winning season, back in the 2008-2009 season (36-11-7 record) to a disappointing 17-18-8 in the 2009-2010 season.  He did not play in last year's playoffs, and speculation was that he was playing hurt.

It turned out to be right.  Thomas had to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip.  For weeks he could not even get off the couch.

Doubting Thomas

Remarkably, Thomas went into the season with fans and writers giving him the "Doubting Thomas" treatment because of his recent season's results.  To a degree, I don't blame them.  To another degree, I immediately understood why his season was not up to snuff after I discovered the news of his surgery requirement.  I watched some of the games last season and he wasn't playing the butterfly or scrambling like he normally did.  That is when it all made sense and I wasn't sure why I didn't notice this before.

Thomas has quickly silenced the critics (to some degree, me included) that he seems to be back in form and what form.

NHL/Franchise Records

Thomas has started with a 6-0-0 record, and is the first goalie in the NHL to start six games allowing one or less goals in each of his starts.  Thomas doesn't want to feel complacent and wants to increase that record.

With the win, he has also tied the Bruins franchise record of 6-0-0 with Tiny Thompson, who completed this feat back in 1937.

His current GAA is a stingy 0.50 and his SV percentage is .984.

He has a career-high five shutouts in the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 campaigns, and is looking to surpass this as he already has three in the books after just six starts.

Vezina Candidate?

While it is too early to state this, at the current rate, Thomas is looking to take the Vezina Trophy for a second time, but we will revisit this come All-Star break.

In Front of the Net

While Thomas is enjoying a fantastic start of the season, he will be the first to acknowledge that the boys in front of him have clearly helped his cause with a good defensive collapsing of the net.  The offense has dramatically improved with the team currently averaging three goals per game, and only allowing an average of .73 goals per game.

Staying Hot

When asked if the hot streak is like everyday life to Boston.com, he answered in a humble manner:

“That’s what I’m planning on,’’ said Thomas (29 saves).  “It’s hockey.  Things are funny. I’m not going to win every game. I’m certainly going to try.  That’s what the team does every night.  I've had two shutouts in a row.  To be honest, I haven’t felt bad, don’t get me wrong.  But I haven’t felt as good the last two games as I did in Games 3 and 4 against the Washington Capitals.  I didn't feel bad.  But if you can struggle through those times when you maybe don’t feel your best—and there’s probably other guys on the team, too—you’re not always going to feel your best every night.  But as a team collectively, if you can bring the effort you need to get the wins, that would help me achieve [staying hot].’’

Say what you will.  Yes, it is very early in the season, but if Thomas can keep up this play and the Bruins squad can keep up their two-way hockey to provide the offense and defense that is needed, then the Bruins will once again be a force to be reckoned with.  Tim Thomas could very well be a Vezina Trophy winner for the second time in his career.

This is Cory Ducey saying "Hit Hard, But Keep It Clean."