NHL Stanley Cup Finals: Is Tim Thomas the Top Conn Smythe Candidate?

Each year the Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded to the MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Fresh off the heels of a riveting and bone-crunching Game 4, there are many questions circulating.

One of the biggest questions deals with Tim Thomas. It seems quite ironic to me. Days ago I was blasted for criticizing Tim Thomas of not having his "A" game after Games 1 and 2.

I don't know if he glanced over my slideshow, had a pow wow with Chuck Norris or did some extreme yoga, but Tim Thomas has certainly re-found his eye of the tiger. The question, though: Is Tim Thomas the Top Conn Smythe Candidate thus far?

The bottom line...Hell Yea!!!

Tim Thomas has had quite a rebound in play. He was doubted by many and trusted by few after his Game 2 diving gaffe at the beginning of overtime.

Game 3 started out normal until Nathan Horton was leveled by Aaron Rome. The Bruins would then lash out and deliver an aggressive eight-goal onslaught on Roberto Luongo.

This had led to such twitter trends such as #LOLuongo, #PullLuongo and countless others. Tim Thomas would even level Henrik Sedin as he attempted to catch an airborne puck. When reporters asked Thomas about the hit, he matter of factly said,

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"He (Sedin) was catching the puck,” Thomas said. “That happens a lot in practice off of rebounds and stuff like that, where the guy reaches up to catch the puck. I’ve learned from practice if you wait for him, he can put it down this way or he can put it down that way. I get scored on in practice if I sit back and try to react to where he sits the puck down with his hand."

"

Tim Thomas would continue this aggressive, take-no-prisoners style of play in Game 4 as he went after Alexandre Burrows and shut the door on the Canucks.

Tim Thomas has been the goalie everyone has heralded all season long. Over the last two games Boston has outscored Vancouver 12-1. Thomas has stopped 77 of the last 78 shots he has faced and he has a swagger about him.

When you look at Thomas' complete body of work he is the heart,soul, and backbone of the Boston Bruins. He is the Bruin or bear if you will. He showed that with his tenacity and aggressiveness in Games 3 and 4.

Thomas has posted a .936 SV% percentage and a 2.11 GAA along with three shutouts. These numbers account for the Bruins run all the way to the Cup Finals. Tim Thomas by far has been the most valuable player for his team during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Without Tim Thomas, the Bruins would not be in the Stanley Cup Finals. The same can not be said about Roberto Luongo, who was considered to be a leading candidate until his meltdown in Games 3 and 4.

If the Bruins continue their great play, they will undoubtedly win the Stanley Cup. However the momentum they have built up may be stopped in its tracks as the series shifts back to Vancouver for Game 5.

Other considerations for the Conn Smythe Trophy would include Ryan Kesler for the Vancouver Canucks as both his offensive and defensive play have made him a force to be reckoned with up to this point in the playoffs.

However it is not completely out of the question that Thomas could win the award even if the Bruins fall short in their quest to win the Stanley Cup.

There is still a lot of hockey to be played and if Tim Thomas continues to shine, he will not only hoist the Stanley Cup, but he will capture the Conn Smythe Trophy as well and possibly the Vezina Trophy later this month.

Here is the schedule for the rest of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final

Friday, June 10 

Game 5  Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET – NBC

Monday, June 13

Game 6 : Vancouver at Boston, 8 p.m. ET – NBC

Wednesday, June 15

Game 7 (if necessary): Boston at Vancouver, 8 p.m. ET – NBC

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