Bruins-Canucks: Tim Thomas Records Second Straight Shutout

Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas made 31 saves to record his second shutout in as many nights against the Vancouver Canucks.

Coach Claude Julien knew after the Edmonton game, in which Thomas had a shutout and made 27 saves, that he was going back to the hot hand for the second game on the three-game Western road swing. 

"As soon as the game was over Monday, I knew who I was going with," Julien said after Boston's third straight win.  "Not only did he get a shutout, but he played well. When I say something I keep my word, and my word is, if somebody is going to get hot, he's going to get the chance to take the ball and run with it."

The Bruins (5-2-3, 13 points) took a while to get going in the first period and Thomas came up big, keeping the Canucks off of the board by making an outstanding save against Henrik Sedin on a breakaway.

Michael Ryder scored the lone goal of the game by snapping a quick shot over the left shoulder of Vancouver's Roberto Luongo midway through the first period.

The Bruins controlled the second period, allowing only seven shots on Thomas, who wasn't really tested in the period.

In the third period, the Bruins kept their composure and cleared all the lanes so that Thomas could make the necessary saves to win the game.  Thomas called the Bruins' composure in the third period "awesome."

"One of those games, especially in the last five minutes, where there was some desperation on the other side and we were running out of gas," Julien said. "Just a great effort by our goaltender tonight."

Game Notes

It was a homecoming for Milan Lucic, who grew up in the Vancouver area.  He was the second star of the game, and although he didn't score, he handed out several crunching blows to the Vancouver Canucks.  The Bruins outshot the Canucks 31-30, but Vancouver enjoyed many more dangerous chances.

The Bruins have today off in Calgary and will be back on ice Thursday night to finish out their three-game Western swing, when they will take on the Calgary Flames.