Zane Gothberg: "No Words" To Describe Tim Thomas' Play In 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs

by Ryan Durling on Jul 7, 2011 7:45 PM EDT in Prospect Reports

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 06: Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins checks Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks as he tends goal during Game Three of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 6, 2011 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Bruins prospect Zane Gothberg didn't mix words about whom he paid the most attention to during the team's recent run to the Stanley Cup.

Being a goaltender, Gothberg's eyes were on Tim Thomas, who backstopped the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup in 39 years and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP and Vezina trophy as best regular season goaltender, to boot.

"You really can't put into words what he's done. You obviously have to be fundamentally sound, but his drive and his passion are incredible," Gothberg, who played last season for the Fargo Force of the USHL, said about Thomas.

"When the play's going on and the puck's in the zone, he's locked in and loaded, but when the puck's at the other end, you can see him smiling and he's just loving playing the game."

It's been well-documented that Thomas has an unorthodox style in the crease, but Gothberg said that he was able to pick up things from the Bruins netminder, albeit their differing styles.

"In certain situations, he's able to stay calm in penalty shots and breakaways - it's a lot of little things with him, and he does a great job with that."

When asked if he'd followed the Bruins' run any more intently than he would have if he weren't a part of the organization, the North Dakota commit admitted that he had.

"As soon as I heard my name called, knowing that I'd be a part of this organization, you kind of dedicate yourself - not just in camp, but in the weight room and stuff - knowing that in a couple of years, you might be able to turn some heads and be a part of stuff like this."

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I believe he didn’t mince words… and I agree with Zane, Timmy’s play was beyond words. Just so incredible.

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Jul 7, 2011 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

is it? I’m asking honestly. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it used like that.

by Ryan Durling on Jul 8, 2011 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeap. It’s mince. An example for those Sox fans in here:
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/2011/07/britton_doesnt_mince_words_aft.html

by BobbyOrrsBastard on Jul 9, 2011 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Mr. Thomas

I have not seen saves like that since Gilles Gilbert. Gilley did it once in a while ,for a few spurts. Thomas did it for a season,then picked it up a couple of levels for the entire playoffs. WOW!

by Robert Mahoney on Jul 7, 2011 11:06 PM EDT reply actions

This thread

is full of Mahoney. (ducking due to incoming bologna)

My mother says watching Timmy gives her heartburn the way watching Cheevers did.

Kick his ass, Seabass!

by phonymahoney on Jul 7, 2011 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Gilles Gilbert

As a kid I mimicked Gilles Gilbert in my basement….absolutely loved his style. When Thomas came around my exact thoughts to my friends were that he was just like Gilbert only better. You could tell that he was just out there having a blast like a little kid…making saves by doing whatever it took and no matter what it looked like. The kind of saves we all would dream about and try to play out as a a kid. His story is truly remarkable and memorable. Years from now we’ll be saying…remember Tim Thomas during that year? What he has done for this organization is immeasurable.

by BsCup on Jul 8, 2011 7:51 AM EDT up reply actions

More on Gilles

As kids we would joke in a Fred Cusick voice: “Gilbert comes out of the net to cut down the angle— to the blue line!” Thomas reminds me a lot of Cheevers, tho, temperamentally at least. I remember 79 very well when both goalies alternated in the Montreal series and Gilbert got the nod in game 7. The Forum fans gave him a standing O too, when it was all over. Did Dryden ever get one in the Garden??

by skatepassnshoot on Jul 9, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

been in ny for awhile

heard we got corvo…nice pickup, nice slapper and i saw this goal live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98Pvko26JQU. what a beauty

You know how I said my profile pic would always be an animal? well, Chara's a BEAST!

by muffinman2 on Jul 8, 2011 12:15 AM EDT reply actions

Nice to finally get the Cup back to Boston!

Good job Timmay! Wish we had you in 88 or 90, although I’m not sure it would have mattered against the Oilers.

put a body on 'em

by RayBourque on Jul 8, 2011 5:37 AM EDT reply actions

props Timmy T...

for being freakishly athletic, especially when it counts.

by snowboard_kat on Jul 8, 2011 8:01 AM EDT reply actions

love that picture

Anyone know the last time a goaltender was credited with a hit in a playoff game prior to that wonderful two-hander? That kind of activity will get a team going for sure if they weren’t already, which in our case they were already firing on overdrive.

by 14G_ on Jul 8, 2011 9:37 AM EDT reply actions

Tim Thomas is Gangsta

http://www.stevedangle.com/tim-thomas-is-gangsta

by TomServo42 on Jul 8, 2011 9:45 AM EDT reply actions

Watching Thomas play these playoffs, I have never felt so confident that he would stop the puck for every breakaway or odd man rush that happened. Usually that’s not a good feeling, but with his performance this season I expected to hear Edwards or Emrick yell, “Save by Thomas!”

by Dave Carignan on Jul 10, 2011 12:00 PM EDT reply actions