How Many Games Should Claude Julien Rest Tim Thomas Before Playoffs?

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Apr 6, 2011

How Many Games Should Claude Julien Rest Tim Thomas Before Playoffs? Tim Thomas proved this season that he was up for the challenge when he was thrown back in net after offseason hip surgery, and he's come through with Vezina-worthy stats that have helped propel the Bruins to their early postseason bid.

The netminder has also proven, however, that he needs rest from time to time to keep up with his energetic style of play, and with the playoffs looming in the coming weeks, it might be time for another quick break for Thomas.

The Bruins have just three games remaining in the regular season, and all three are against teams that have no chance at the playoffs. These teams will likely come at the Bruins hard, since they have nothing left to lose, so taking Thomas out of those matchups could help him rest up for the arduous postseason.

In the meantime, sitting Thomas could do wonders for backup Tuukka Rask. The Finnish netminder has been a bit rusty at times this season, but once he shakes off the dust, he's proven that he can snap right back into his game between the pipes. Giving Rask the nod against the desperate teams will help him get back into postseason mode, as he will likely see a fair amount of shots, in addition to facing some physical challenges in front of the net.

Mixing things up between Rask and Thomas will help both goaltenders as the Bruins head toward the postseason, and they'll definitely need their trusty backstops in what's shaping up to be a tough first round.

How many games should Claude Julien rest Tim Thomas before the playoffs? Share your thoughts below.

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