Tim Thomas has plenty to smile about this year.
Beating out Columbus' Steve Mason by nine votes, Boston net-minder Tim Thomas was named the 2008-09 Sporting News goaltender of the year, by a poll of 292 NHL players.
Thomas led the NHL in save percentage (.933) and goals-against average (2.10) in the 2008-09 campaign, while collecting 36 wins and five shutouts in 54 games-played. One of the more remarkable, yet overlooked, stat is the11 regular-time losses in those 54 games.
For his league high in save percentage (and minimum 25 games), Thomas was awarded the 2008-09 Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award.
The combination of Thomas and Manny Fernandez for Boston were the fiercest goaltending duo in the entire league, especially in the first half of the season. The goalies combined for a 33-7-4 record in the first 44 games of the regular season. They also captured the William M. Jennings Trophy as...
"the goalkeeper(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Winners are selected based on regular-season play."
Boston ended with just 190 total goals against in the 82 regular season games, with the Minnesota Wild with seven more for second place, and the San Jose Sharks with 199.
The accolades for Thomas don't end there—the 35-year old made the All Star roster for the second year in a row, with his second All Star win in a row. Thomas made 19 of 22 saves in the 12-11 shootout victory for the Eastern Conference.
Thomas was rewarded for his outstanding play with a four-year, $20-million contract extension on Apr. 2, 2009—carrying The Tank through the 2012-13 season.
Along with Columbus' Steve Mason, and Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom, Thomas has been nominated for the 2008-09 Vezina Trophy—awarded to a goaltender that is "adjudged to be the best at this position". I sincerely hope the voters for the Vezina see this as clearly as the 292 players who voted Thomas in this time around.
Other related articles:
Peter Chiarelli named Sporting News NHL Executive of the Year
Claude Julien named Sporting News NHL Coach of the Year
Boston Bruins' 2009 top free agents
Tim Thomas is worth the price tag
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Comments
All the awards still can not soften the pain of that OT loss.
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