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Tim Thomas is hip to the scene for Bruins once again 10.18.10 at 1:56 pm ET
By DJ Bean
Tim Thomas has produced for the Bruins big-time through two games. (AP Photo)

Tim Thomas has produced for the Bruins big-time through two games. (AP Photo)

WILMINGTON — Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas has flashed his Vezina form, stopping 60 of 61 shots he has faced in his first two games of the season, both Bruins victories. He’s got a 0.50 goals against average that, as one would expect based on the number, is tops in the league in the young season. He also leads the league in save percentage (.984), and in sitting atop both categories he is leading two columns that Tuukka Rask finished last season tops in.

One can think plenty of things about the Bruins’ goaltending situation based on the last two games, but just don’t think that Thomas is getting ahead of himself.

“Those kind of stats are going to tough to keep the same,” Thomas said with a grin following Monday’s practice at Ristuccia Arena. “No matter what, especially at this point of the year, it’s not about stats, but it’s about getting the wins.”

And Thomas, perhaps to the surprise of some, has been in net for both of the team’s wins through the first three games. Rask started the season-opener in Prague and fell victim to a very poor night from the guys skating in front of him. As a result, and staying consistent with the team’s plan of having the goalies split time, Thomas was given the start last Sunday and ran with it, shutting out the Coyotes in a 3-0 victory.

“It feels great. It’s been a great way to start the year. Now we’re starting to get into the meat of it where it’s game after game after game after game, so you’ve got to keep it going,” Thomas said. “You pat yourself on the back for what’s been accomplished so far, but we’ve got to go right back to work.”

So what are the differences between the Thomas who has gotten off to such a hot start and the Thomas who saw Rask emerge as the starting goalie down the stretch a season ago? Well, health for one. The 36-year-old had surgery on his hip following the playoffs, which saw Rask start each game in both rounds.

Now, Thomas has been able to play at 100 percent health, something he didn’t get to do a year ago, but he’s not too fond of the notion that his hip is the only reason he’s played well to this point.

“Yes, the surgery and the hip have helped a lot, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t like I stunk up the league last year,” Thomas said. “[However, with the surgery,] I can play a totally different game.”

Indeed, Thomas did not “stink up the league” in 2009-10. He posted a respectable 2.56 GAA, which despite ranking 16th in the league made it difficult to compile wins given that the Bruins scored an NHL-worst 2.39 goals per game. Even so, when the Bruins were eliminated from the playoffs in the second round by the Flyers, there was no doubt in Thomas’ mind that he had to get the surgery, even if setbacks hovered as a possibility.

“It was so bad that [it wasn't even a choice]. They were pretty positive right from the start, Dr. Kelly and our doctor, they were very good right from the start with a very positive outlook,” Thomas said. “Yeah, it’s not an easy recovery, it’s a four-week recovery, but they were confident that it would go well and I would be better than ever.”

Thomas did intimate that he “had some idea as to how much [the hip] was holding me back, so to speak,” but that there was no way of totally telling how things would be once he was healthy. The Bruins have to like that they’ve seen so far.

———-

Here’s a funny nugget from Thomas a few minutes after he talked about the hip: A reporter asked Thomas, who sits next to Rask in the locker room, what the similarities were between the two netminders.

“Well, we’re both-looking,” Thomas said.

Rask, sitting alone in front of his locker, smirked for a few moments before finally saying, “I like that.”

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