The Boston Bruins pounded old friend Tim Thomas for six goals Tuesday night, and the most impressive one of all came from an unlikely source.
With the Bruins already leading the Florida Panthers 4-2 midway through the third period, Shawn Thornton — a bruising fourth-liner — gathered the puck in the defensive zone and systematically weaved through Panthers defenders, shaking off a hit from two of them along the side boards before skating in on net and beating Thomas with a top-shelf backhander.
Thornton is known more for his fists than his stick, making his rare offensive displays all the more memorable.
“It will definitely be a highlight of the night around North America,” Bruins winger Milan Lucic said with a smile after the game, via BostonBruins.com. “I would say for right now, I would put it in the top three or four of goals of the month.
“It was awesome to see him do what he did there, and I know everyone had a good chuckle, because we love seeing him score and get rewarded when he does. It almost seems like when he does score, he gets the pretty ones, and that one was probably his prettiest since he’s been here on the Bruins.”
Check it out in the video below.
