And yet, it’s there. Night after night, Thomas continues to do what he does best — stand on his head to keep the Bruins in games. His efforts in net are clearly paying off as the Bruins currently sit atop the Northeast Division entering the new year.
The buzz is already generating around Thomas this season, wondering if the 36-year-old netminder is back on track for his second Vezina Trophy. Thomas has been outstanding thus far this season, and continues to lead the league in save percentage (.947), goals against average (1.74) and shutouts (5).
But can he keep it going for his second Vezina?
Though the season is far from over, Thomas’ 2010 numbers are better than the 2008-09 season (when he won his first Vezina) and he’s projected to finish just as strong.
While the competition is steep, there are only a few goaltenders that have shown the ability to match Thomas in his efforts. Atlanta’s Ondrej Pavelec gave a perfect example of what he can do when he’s on his game on Thursday night against the Bruins, but not one netminder has shown the consistency that Thomas has displayed this season.
It doesn’t hurt that Thomas has a solid team behind him that recognize his revitalized ability. The Bruins haven’t played at a consistent tear yet this season, but they’ve proven their staying power in the NHL and will hopefully continue to support Thomas as he sits atop the league leaderboards.
Also in support of Thomas’ dominance is Rask. Though you could hardly categorize Rask as a backup goaltender, he’s playing the “team-first” card perfectly, and is willing to sit back while Thomas rides his successful streak, just as Thomas did last season while Rask was rising to the occasion.
We may be a long way from the Vezina decision, but Thomas is clearly heading toward his second piece of hardware.
Do you think Thomas will win the Vezina trophy this season? Share your thoughts below.
Thursday, Dec. 30: Should the Bruins be using Tuukka Rask more this season?
Will Tim Thomas win the Vezina Trophy this season?online survey
