Thomas enters Tuesday night's game in Washington having played in 31 games so far this season. On Jan. 24 of the 2010-11 season, Thomas was making his 35th appearance of that season.
That workload only increased down the stretch, as the B's rode Thomas into the playoffs and to the Stanley Cup. Mix in the fact that Boston had a short offseason, it only makes sense that they would limit his minutes this season.
The B's could start to lean on "backup" Tuukka Rask even more in the season's second half.
Rask has been arguably the better goalie this season, although he has shouldered less of the load than Thomas. He's been incredible, though, entering Tuesday's game with a .943 save percentage to go along with an air-tight 1.69 goals against average.
And while the Bruins may not have a goaltending controversy on their hands just yet, it is worth noticing that Thomas has been struggling some lately, at least in relation to how well he's played the last few seasons. In his last eight starts, he's allowed 23 goals, giving up at least four goals in four of those starts.
One would think that the Bruins would go with the hot hand down the stretch and into the playoffs, despite Thomas' otherworldly postseason during Boston's Cup run last spring. In doing so, it could be Rask, not Thomas, who is between the pipes for the Black and Gold in their attempt to defend as champions.
