For the past two games of the Stanley Cup Final, Thomas hasn't just stood tall in his crease — he's also been in the heads of the Canucks.
Vancouver fired 79 shots on Thomas in the two games in Boston, and managed to get just one past him while losing Games 3 and 4 by a combined 12-1 count as the Bruins pulled even in the series.
The Canucks haven't been able to solve Thomas' unorthodox style, and after Game 4, Vancouver captain Henrik Sedin stated that finding a way to beat Thomas was the key for the Canucks.
Back in Vancouver on Friday, Sedin and the Canucks were still searching for answers, and admitted that even playing against Thomas for four straight games doesn't provide a lot of clues due to his unpredictable approach.
"I don't think he's a goalie that you learn things from looking at him," Sedin said after the club's morning skate at Rogers Arena in preparation for Game 5. "He tries different things all the time. At the same time, we know he's capable of giving up goals. He's shown that throughout the playoffs and if we keep taking the shots that we have, keep getting pucks to the net and traffic in front, he's going to let in a few goals for sure."
The Canucks are clinging to the faith that eventually they'll get some shots past Thomas despite the lack of results their efforts have produced in this series, with Thomas allowing just five goals on 146 shots in the first four games.
"We're getting the shots on Thomas now, but he's seeing a lot of pucks and we're not finding ways to get in on the rebounds," Canucks forward Jannik Hansen said. "Obviously the goalies in this league, if they're seeing the puck and you're not challenging them with the second and third opportunities, you're not going to score a whole lot of goals."
Hansen scored the only goal on Thomas in the two games in Boston with a third-period strike in Game 3 when the Bruins were already up 5-0. Hansen hasn't been surprised by Thomas' style or the success he's had with it, but he does think the Canucks can do more against him.
"I think it's pretty much what we saw on the video before the series started and going into Games 1 and 2, that's what we've seen throughout the entire series," Hansen said. "That's how he plays. That being said, it's a matter of getting pucks to him and making it harder for him. It's been too easy for him."
Hansen also disputed how much of a psychological edge Thomas has over the Canucks at this point.
"I don't know if we're frustrated," Hansen said. "Obviously not scoring goals is never a good sign, but again, we have the manpower and the guys in here that can get it done. It's just a matter of doing it.
"I just think we need to do what we do best," Hansen added. "We need to make plays, move the puck around and get in front of him and not make it easy on him."
