Tim Thomas Just Had The Greatest Season By a Goalie…EVER

Often times people get caught up in the moment and proclaim that whatever is now is best.  “Lebron James is the greatest of all-time”, “Green Bay Packers are on the verge of a dynasty”, “Dirk Nowitzki is the 2nd best Power Forward of all time”, etc.  Hyperbole dominates our world in the 24 hour news cycle…so I figured I’d join in. I am not going to say that Tim Thomas is the best goalie of all time, but he did just have the greatest season of all time.

Heading into this season it wasn’t even clear that Tim Thomas would be the Boston Bruins full-time starter in net.  He had suffered a hip injury in the previous season and lost his job to a bright young prospect, Tuuka Rask.  Tim Thomas is a fighter. He rebounded from his injury and turned in a spectacular regular season.

Regular Season Stats

• Record: 35-11-9
• Shutouts: 9
• Goals Against Average: 2.00
• Save Percentage: .938

Those numbers are historically good.  His save % mark of .938 is the greatest ever.  What is even more impressive is that the Bruins gave up a ton of shots during the regular season.  He is a slam dunk for the Vezina Trophy, and really should have been given serious Hart Trophy consideration.  He was clearly the MVP of the Bruins during the regular season.

Post Season Stats

• Record: 16-9 (emphasis on the 16 because that is all that really matters)
• Shutouts: 4
• Goals Against Average: 1.98
• Save Percentage: .940

Tim Thomas’s post season is perhaps more remarkable than his regular season.  Thomas played a ton of games during the regular season, and I sure thought that perhaps his 37 year-old body would wear down during the grind of the playoffs.  That never happened.  Then just when you thought Tim Thomas couldn’t play any better, he took his game to another level and dominated the Stanley Cup Finals. He hit was clearly in the heads of the Canucks.  Vancouver lost their minds. They complained about being out of his crease. Bieksa had the nerve to call him “leaky” after game 4. Luongo told the world that Thomas sucks and that he is better after game 5.  Thomas even nailed one of the Sedin Sisters and almost fought Burrows.  The guy did everything and completely deserved the Conn Smythe.  Nobody else was really in the discussion.

The numbers don’t lie, but they don’t tell the whole story either.  Thomas is a hockey player.  He is confident, aggressive, a battler, a leader, a class act, humble, clutch, and easily the most entertaining goaltender I have ever witnessed.  Hats off to Thomas on the greatest season ever by a goalie.

 

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Lock of the Century: Pumping My Own Tires

Before the Stanley Cup Finals Started I gave the Citizens four Locks of the Century.  In those bets, I went 3-1.  Let’s recap:

More Total Points

Burrows -150

Bergeron +120

Before the series I said: “Burrows sucks.  I don’t know how else to put it.  The guy rides on the skirts of the Sedin Sisters and get points almost by default.  Chara will be smashing them in the face all series long and I don’t see that line being a big factor.  Kesler will be skating against the Krejci line most likely which means Bergeron will have plenty of space to score.  Bergeron is without a doubt getting more points than Burrows.”

I am not even all that proud of this one to be honest.  Burrows sucks and is completely gutless, and now everyone knows it.  He had 3 points in the series, all of which game in game 2…a game for which he should have been suspended.  So in my mind he really had 0 points. Complete non-factor.  Bergeron, meanwhile was one of the Bruins better players and leaders in the series.  He is a terrific hockey player.  He has great character, plays two-way hockey and does all the little things right.  By my count he finished with 5 points, and his performance in Game 7 will go down in Boston folklore.  I think Bergeron will be thought of much like Dave Roberts, David Ortiz, Teddy Brushci, Ty Law, etc.  Maybe not the best player on the team, but a guy who had spectacular moments that will be remembered forever. Its a little ironic that perhaps the 3rd goal of Game 7 which completely locked up the Cup appeared to go off the hand that Burrows bit.  Karma is a bitch. Play with some class next time, asshole.

More Total Points

Erhoff -150

Chara +120

Before the series I said: “I am really confused by this one as well.  Chara will most likely be parked in front of the net on the Bruins powerplay which will give him more opportunities to score than normal.  He is also good in the transition game and should pick up a few assists when he isn’t murdering the Sedins.”

Again, picking an underdog that never should have been an underdog is nothing to write home about…but its nothing to sneeze at either.  Erhoff finished the series with a grand total of…drum roll please…1 pt.  Erhoff’s performance was…err–off.  1 pt in the series and a +/- rating of minus 7 for the series.  Way to step up in the Stanley Cup Finals, real solid performance. Meanwhile, when Chara wasn’t smashing Thelma and Louise’s faces in, he was contributing on offense as well.  He didn’t spend as much time in front of the net like I thought he would, but he still managed to chip in 4 points and was a +5 for the series.  Great performance by an elite defenseman and a strong leader.

More Total Points

Ryder +105

Bergeron -135

Before the series I said: “Ryder is good for a one big game a series, but he doesn’t get the minutes required for him to out score Bergeron for an entire series.  It also wouldn’t surprise me if Seguin takes a few shifts from Ryder as well.  Take Bergeron.”

Well if I was going to miss on one bet, I am glad it was the one involving two Bruins players.  Full disclosure, I have never been a big Michael Ryder fan, but I have to give credit where credit is due.  Ryder played a terrific series and finished with 6 points to Bergeron’s 5 points.  Ryder used his size and great shot to be a very effective player for the Bruins.  They probably couldn’t have won the Cup without him.  Props to Ryder.

Exact Series Pick

Bruins in 7

Before the series I said: “My heart says Bruins, my head says Canucks, and my balls say Bruins.  Usually when my balls and heart agree it’s a recipe for disaster…but I don’t care.  Bruins in 7. Suck it Canada.”

I am quite proud of this one.  The Bruins were big underdogs in the series.  Vancouver had home ice advantage, had just come off an easy series against a soft San Jose team, had the best record, Vezina finalist in net, Hart Trophy Finalist, Selke Trophy finalist blah blah blah…I didn’t care.  All of those awards are for the regular season, and they didn’t have a Conn Smythe Trophy candidate on the roster. Something deep down inside told me that the Bruins had enough sand to win this series and I have never been happier with a winning pick in my life.  As Barry Melrose said last night on SportsCenter, it was will over skill.  The Bruins simply had too much heart, pride, grit, and character to lose to this gutless Canucks team.  This was a classic series and good won out over evil.

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Stanley Cup Finals Game 6: Why I hate the Canucks Part Two

After Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals,  I did a post on why I hate the Canucks.  Well, one post on this subject isn’t nearly enough.  This series has brought to light everything that is wrong with Vancouver.  Every time I feel like I have reached a point where I can’t hate them any more than I already do, the Canucks baffle me and reach a new low.  I was always acutely aware of their on-ice act.  Whining, chirping, diving, flying elbows to the head, hair pulling, biting(well biting is a new one, but not shocking coming from scum like Burrows) etc were all to be expected when the Vancouver Canucks were on the schedule.  However, I had no idea that they were this smug and this arrogant.

I am paraphrasing here, but these are some direct quotes from the Canucks after their Game 5 win:

“Look, it doesn’t matter that I gave up 12 goals in games 3 and 4…I am better than Tim Thomas.  I would have saved that one he let in.  It was an easy save.  I am not going to sit here and keep giving Thomas compliments when he hasn’t said one nice thing about me all series. Tim Thomas is my hero and it really hurts my feelings.”–Roberto Luongo

“If I had a time machine, I’d still launch myself into Nathan Horton’s skull. Wouldn’t change a thing. It was only two seconds late and he shouldn’t have been looking at a teammate when trying to get ready for a return pass.  Its Horton’s fault I tried to give him brain damage.  I am the victim here.  The NHL isn’t consistent with their punishments.  I mean Burrows bites a guy and gets nothing, and I try to decapitate a guy and I get 4 games? How is that fair?”–Aaron Rome

“The fact that the Sedins haven’t scored one point and are like minus 23 combined for the series, doesn’t mean that they aren’t playing well or that Chara is shutting them down completely.”–Elaine Vigneault

If those three direct quotes didn’t convince you that the Vancouver Canucks are not only gutless, but also smug and arrogant maybe the story the Boston Globe is breaking will do the trick.  Not only did the Canucks plan a parade that would take place after Game 5 victory, but they also tried to sell the broadcast rights to the event.  So basically the Canucks just thought they could roll over the Bruins when it took them 6 games to beat Nashville, and 7 games to beat the Blackhawks.  Arrogant.  Hey guess what Vancouver…nobody wants to watch your stupid parade that’s 40 years in the making(that probably won’t even happen).  America hates you, the rest of Canada hates you, Sweden probably hates you, so you’ll probably end up having to put it on Vancouver Public access TV or something. Maybe U-stream.

DROP THE PUCK. I am ready for blood.  Rise up Boston.  Bruins 4, Nucks 1. So it was written, so let it be done.

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Lock of the Century: NHL Finals Game 5 Edition

Boston Bruins +150 @ Vancouver Canucks -170

This line scares the absolute hell out of me.  Anybody who saw the last two games would never have spit out a line like this. That makes me think Costa Rica knows something I don’t know…but then I realized that is impossible because I don’t think they even have the internet down there. 

My biggest fear is that the Canucks will play Cory Schneider.  Not only do I think that Schneider is just the better goalie, but he is also mentally stable.  The Bruins would still have the edge in goaltending obviously, but not a 12-1 edge that they have enjoyed the past two games.  Even if Costa Rica knows that Schneider is the starter, is Schneider and home ice really worth -170 on the moneyline?  I don’t think so. My gut tells me Elaine will stick with the Veteran grease ball goalie with all the mental problems, but Luongo will have a short leash. 

Mary-Kate and Ashley Sedin are terrible.  They are like -32 combined in the series so far and I don’t think Henrik has a shot on net.  Chara and the Bruins team defense has completely shut them down and Marchand is getting under their skin like only Dave Bolland has been able to do in the past.  The Canucks are a gutless team and home ice won’t change that.  Give me Captain America Tim Thomas and the rest of the Boston Bruins. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gPZare9vpI

For more gambling picks go to www.youronlinesportsline.com

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They are who we thought they were: Canucks are AWFUL

I am not going to sit here and say I told you so, but I totally did.  The Canucks are a joke.  The softest team in the league. Unworthy of being in the Stanley Cup Finals.  The Canucks are a classic “fake tough” team.  They will push you and try to get under your skin by diving, chirping, biting, throwing head shots, and complaining.  If you stand up to them and push back at them they will completely crumble.  The Bruins took it to the Canucks physically and they whimpered away. 

NHL Network was really rushing to the defense of the Canucks last night. “Kesler must be hurt. Luongo has vertigo. Burrows is menstruating, blah blah blah”.  Truth of the matter is that this is just who the Canucks are.  They are a group of cowards who barely beat an injury depleted Blackhawks team in a rebuilding year. They just suck. 

Now I even think Vancouver is delusional.  Bieksa called Tim Thomas “leaky” in the post game and said that they were showing him too much respect.  Yeah, real leaky goalie in net for the Bruins.  The Canucks have scored under 2 goals in three of the 4 games and on top of that Thomas has more hits in the series than the Sedin Sisters combined.  Showing him too much respect? How, by trying to slash the stick out of his hand and running him every chance they get?  Burrows even tried to fight Thomas.  Who fights a goalie?  Burrows is pathetic. 

The only chance the Canucks have to salvage this series is to start Cory Schneider, but even the Boston native Schneider sounded like he wanted to part of the Bruins. “None of the goals were Roberto’s fault. He deserves to be in there for game 5.” Come on now, Cory.  You went to Phillips Andover and graduated from BC with honors in 3 years, you’re smarter than that.  Luongo’s legs were more open than Lindsay Lohan’s on the Peverly goal.  Ryder’s shot looked like a peewee shot it.  The only goal that wasn’t on Luongo was Peverly’s second goal.  Other than that Luongo was responsible.  Maybe Schneider doesn’t want to alienate his hometown team. Maybe he is afraid of the Bruins.  Maybe he is just as delusional as the rest of teammates.

This series is over.  I originally predicted the Bruins winning in 7 games, but now I don’t think it will take that long.  Long live the Original 6.  AMERICA.

 

PS I love Milbury in between periods.  Calls the Canucks “smug and arrogant” during game 3 and has the line of the year when he referred to the Sedin Sisters as “Thelma and Louise”. Just perfect. If NBC could replace Pierre McGuire with Darren Pang it would be the greatest hockey broadcast crew ever assembled.

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Vindication Via The Bruins

That felt great.  The Stanley Cup Finals has displayed to the greater hockey world what the Vancouver Canucks are all about.  They love to chirp, they play dirty, the dive, they bite, and they throw gutless blind hits to the head.  Finally, somebody besides the Chicago Blackhawks has the sand to stand up to the Canucks and punish them for disrespecting the game of hockey.  Now the Bruins have discovered the final piece to the puzzle that will let them beat Vancouver.  If you punish them physically, out work them, and frustrate them…the Canucks will lose their cool, take dumb penalties, and quit.  Luongo looked completely rattled for the last 40 minutes.

Last night’s game was an absolute beat down.  The Bruins physically and mentally dominated the Canucks from the second period on.  I feel vindicated by this series and I am 100% on the Bruin bandwagon.  The Bruins are the opposite of Vancouver in so many ways.  They have tough guys who are confrontational, but they are more than willing to answer the bell when challenged.  I love the way they play.  Even Tim Thomas got into the hitting game last night when he checked one of the Sedin Sisters. 

The Bruins most likely will not score in abundance like they did in game 3, but they need to duplicate the level of intensity they brought for the duration of the series.  They are still trailing and they must continue to attack Vancouver across all 200 feet of the ice surface.  I was completely wrong about Shawn Thornton.  I wanted Seguin in the lineup and I undervalued what Thornton brings to his teammates with his toughness and energy.  Thornton is just flat-out scary and the ref tossing him out of the game mid way through the 3rd period may have save somebody’s life. 

I have one final thought on last night’s game.  Game exemplified why I love hockey and the NHL more than any sport.  The NHL has an element of frontier justice.  Burrows was a punk(and a difference maker) so Shawn Thornton smashed him early in the game to set the tone.  Burrows takes a swipe at Tim Thomas late, so Milan Lucic turns into hockey’s version of Wyatt Earp and doles out the punishment immediately behind the net.  No other sport or league has this mentality of self policing and standing up for your teammates.  I can’t wait for Game 4 as I am sure the hatred between the teams is about to boil over.

The Bruins told the Canucks they are coming…and Hell is coming with them!

Bruins in 7

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Lock of the Century: Stanley Cup Finals Game 2

Boston Bruins +165 @ Vancouver Canucks -195

 

I want to say that the Bruins deserved better in Game 1, but that would be incorrect.  Tim Thomas deserved better.  Vancouver was the superior team, and their skating advantage was obvious.  Tim Thomas was superman in Game 1.  General rule of thumb is that I hate goalies, but Thomas is different.  He has incredible passion and never stops fighting.  Boston must get to the net in Game 2.  All of their chances came from the outside.  Luongo has a history crumbling when guys get in his face.  The Bruins were physical in Game 1, but it seemed like the Canucks were often the ones initiating.  Boston needs to be the “Big Bad Bruins” in game 2.  Milan Lucic…I am looking in your direction. 

Bruins will play desperate, Thomas will shine again, Bruins win a close one. 

Why I Hate The Canucks

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals was the perfect example of why I hate the Vancouver Canucks.  They are a gutless, euro-trash, team of divers and whiners.  The sequence at the end of the first period was disgusting.  Scrums are just part of hockey, but the Canucks can’t even do that right.  Hamuis and Bieksa both try to take on Chara at the same time.  Trying to goad the big guy into taking a penalty, knowing full well that neither of them would ever have the guts to actually throw with Chara.  Bieksa looks real tough when he jumps rookies from behind like Viktor Stalberg or when he challenges finesse “star” players like Patrick Marleau.  He would never fight somebody who is actually tough or bigger than him.  Bieksa is gutless.  Chara would have made Bieksa’s face concave.

Burrows is complete scum.  Everyone is talking about the biting incident, and for good reason.  However, I thought him grabbing the visor of Bergeron was also just another example of the type of play that makes Burrows a gutless rat. I was thrilled that he got 4 minutes for biting, and then another two for slew-footing Tim Thomas from behind later in the game.  Burrows has been this type of player his entire career, and I hope his actions are finally catching up to him.  He is the west coast version of Sean Avery.

The diving by the Sedins and by the Canucks as a whole was disgusting.  They are just the worst.  The Canucks have no integrity.  Hockey is a game of honor and the way the Canucks play the game is an affront to the tradition and soul of the game itself.  They are unworthy of winning the Stanley Cup.  I hope the Bruins can find a way to create more quality chances than they had in game one.  They will need more sand and net presence to win the series.  Tim Thomas did everything he could.  I still like the Bruins in 7…nothing from Game 1 suggests the Bruins can win the Series, but I believe the Hockey Gods will intervene and prevent this team from winning.

PS: Ryan Kesler is the only Canuck I respect

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NHL Finals Preview

The Stanley Cup Finals are almost here.  The Vancouver Canucks haven’t won the Stanley Cup in their 40 years of being an NHL franchise and the Boston Bruins haven’t won the Cup since Bobby Orr lifted it in 1972.  One of these teams will end a long draught, and the Vancouver Canucks are the heavy favorite.  The series will ultimately come down a few key matchups and situations. 

Chara vs The Sedins

Both the Sedins and Chara have had their fair share of playoff woes.  This year has been different for Chara though.  Since recovering from an illness against the Montreal Canadiens, Chara has been in Norris Trophy form.  He has been the anchor of the Boston Bruins defense and did an admirable job against the Tampa Bay Lightning’s top scorers St. Louis, Lecavalier, and Stamkos.  The Sedins have largely struggled in the playoffs again this season.  Dave Bolland’s return mid way through round one caused a scoring draught that lasted through the second round series against Nashville.  Once the Sedins were clear of players like Bolland, Keith, Seabrook, Shea Weber, and Ryan Suter, they enjoyed more success.  Chara is on top of his game right now and an absolute beast of a man.  He will punish the Sedin Sisters and shut them down for the majority of the series. Advantage: Boston

Tim Thomas vs Roberto Luongo

One is an all-american underdog success story.  The other is a mentally weak, french Canadian grease ball.  Luongo has a history of epic collapses in the post-season and was even benched for Game 6 in the Chicago series after getting lit up in games 4 and 5.  Luongo will most likely have at least one game where he is shaky and that could be the difference in a tightly contested series.  Tim Thomas had arguably the greatest season ever by a goalie and should a unanimous selection for the Vezina Trophy.  He must out play Luongo for the Bruins to win the series.  Advantage: Boston

Special Teams:

This could be the deciding factor for the series.  The Vancouver Canucks power-play and penalty kill have had great success throughout the regular season and playoffs. The Bruins special teams have been awful.  Their penalty kill rate should probably have been better, but Tim Thomas has let in the occasional ill-timed soft goal.  The Bruins’ powerplay is converting at a horrendous 8% in the playoffs.  They are so desperate that have moved Chara in front of the net.  While I am not an advocate of taking Chara’s bomb of a slapshot off out of the equation, Luongo has had difficulty in the past dealing with over-sized bodies at the top of his crease. Advantage: Vancouver

X-Factors

Ryan Kesler is the key to the series for the Canucks.  I can easily envision Kesler exploding offensively against Boston, much the same way he did against Nashville. He won’t have as difficult of a task in this series.  Boston has great depth, but they don’t possess an elite offensive player like Toews or Joe Thornton that will occupy Kesler’s attention.  Given more freedom, Kesler could be a force at both ends and win the Conn Smythe Trophy

Tyler Seguin.  Seguin needs to make plays in this series for Boston to win.  The Canucks like to play a more open style which could create opportunities for Boston’s most talented player.  Seguin is the only Bruin capable of creating an opportunity out of thin air, and if Claude Julien allows him to get more than 5 minutes a game, Seguin could make enough special plays to give Boston an edge.

Final Analysis:

My heart says Bruins, my head says Canucks, and my balls say Bruins.  Usually when my balls and heart agree it’s a recipe for disaster…but I don’t care.  Bruins in 7. Suck it Canada.

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NHL Finals: “If I can change, and you can change, EVERYBODY CAN CHANGE!!!”

Boston +200 vs Vancouver -240

Full disclosure, I have been rooting against the Boston Bruins all season, and all playoffs long.  Most of my hockey friends are die-hard Boston Bruin fans and I just don’t want to give them the satisfaction of winning the Stanley Cup.  Its going to be a miserable year if they talk half as much shit as I did after the Chicago Blackhawks won the Cup.  I also never really respected the Bruins.  I see them as a team devoid of high-end skill and superstar players. Chara is their best player, other than goalie Tim Thomas, and its hard to root for the NHL equivalent of Ivan Drago. Chara always seems to wilt in big moments, and I think that Tim Thomas covers a lot of their defensive deficiencies.  However, after watching these playoffs, I have grown to respect the Boston Bruins. They are so deep, especially at the center position.  Bergeron, Krejci, Kelly, and Campbell is as good of a group of centers as there is in the league. Then they also have Peverly and young phenom Tyler Seguin who are natural centers, but play the wing for Boston.  They are real blue-collar team who just tries to get in and out work the opposition with their fore-check.

Now that they have disposed of yet another team that I thought was more talented than the Bruins, I am left in a position of pulling for a “likeable” team against the team I hate most in the league.  Chicago needs Boston to save us from a Vancouver Stanley Cup.  So, here I am Boston, ready to apologize for hating and ready to jump on the bandwagon.  “If I can change, and you can change…EVERYBODY CAN CHANGE!!!” Go Bruins!

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PS: If Boston loses to Vancouver I will hate them forever for allowing that to happen.

PPS: The Blackhawks are really better than both of these teams. One more game out of Bolland and the Hawks probably beat Vancouver in 6 games and continue on to win the Stanley Cup.