Boston Bruins: Should've Started Tuukka in Game 4? NO!

Tim Thomas, coming off a phenomenal regular season in which he led the league in goals-against average and save percentage, was looking to continue his success into the postseason. Thomas had a rough go of it the previous season, coming off a Vezina Trophy in 2008-09 and shiny new contract extension to give him $20 million over the next four seasons.

After a summer of trade rumors, we saw Thomas boast a GAA of around 2.00 all season long as well as break Dominik Hasek's record for save percentage set back in 1998-99 with the Buffalo Sabres. Despite a couple shaky outings in the Bruins' first-round series with the Canadiens, we have seen the regular season Tim Thomas this postseason.

One game that stands out is the double overtime thrilling Game 5, which saw playoff newcomer Nathan Horton net his first of two crucial game-winning goals in the series. Thomas had 44 saves in the game that stretched nearly a whole five periods, no save bigger than the stunner he had on Brian Gionta five minutes into the second overtime. Talk about saving a team's you know what.

Then there was his sensational Game 2 performance in the Flyers series, which also went to overtime in a game where Timmy turned away 52 shots. It was a game full of Tim Thomas highlights, much of them on James van Riemsdyk who was the lone Flyer who showed up to play all series...well, the first two games of it at least.

The Broad Sheet Bullies were pretty much M.I.A. the two games in Boston. With how MVP-quality Thomas' goaltending has been, foolishly people were calling for Tuukka Rask to get the start for Game 4. Reasons being: to give Thomas some rest and keep Tuukka fresh after serving as a spectator the previous 10 games.

But the only reasons I could comprehend for people wanting this is: let the foot off the gas pedal, give the Flyers motivation to spur another monumental comeback and cause some sort of mess in net.

Imagine here, if Claude did start Tuukka for Game 4, and the Flyers came out roaring to some 5-1 win themselves, what would we all be thinking of the goalie choice then? Sure it would depend on whether the goals allowed were soft and how awful the team in front of him was, but it still would've created a murky situation. It surely would rattle Rask and then you face an extended series and a team with life along with inspirations from last year.

Not to even overlook the brilliant coaching of Philadelphia's Peter Laviolette, who was already trying to play mind games with the Bruins following the two games in Philadelphia. Imagine the message he'd evoke to his team if the Bruins did indeed go with Tuukka Rask as if the Bruins had time to kill.

"Look, they think the series is over already so they went with their backup tonight to give their hot goalie rest. Don't forget you guys shattered this goalie last year, you can do it again now."

It would've been a recipe for disaster.

You ride one goalie through the playoffs. One! Unless you're goaltending situation is as bad as the Flyers or you are facing an injury situation, you ride your starter through the entire spring...especially if he's the potential Vezina Trophy winner and is playing like it through the playoffs!

So stop with this should've had Tuukka Time for Game 4 nonsense. It's just ridiculous. Even a highly regarded writer for a Boston newspaper was spewing out this idea. I don't see the good in it. Very little upside if any, and a whole lot of downside.

Tim Thomas all the way. Especially with his Conn Smythe-worthy goaltending so far.