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

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."