BOSTON // Already the favourite to win the Vezina Trophy for the NHL's top goaltender, Boston's Tim Thomas did his chances of winning post-season MVP no harm at all on Wednesday by shutting out Vancouver 4-0 as the Bruins levelled the Stanley Cup final at two games each.
Returning to Boston trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven championship series after two gut-wrenching defeats, the Bruins needed to make a stand in Games Three and Four to have any chance of lifting the Cup.
The battling Thomas delivered two outstanding performances to lead the Bruins to an 8-1 rout on Monday before their 4-0 shutout in Game Four.
The goaltender has been aggressive and quick to protect his crease, even dropping the gloves and trading punches with Alex Burrows on Wednesday.
"It's indicative of the way he's had to battle to get here, number one," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "Anybody that knows the story of Tim Thomas knows he's taken a real bumpy road to get to the NHL.
"He's had so many obstacles in front of him that he's overcome, it makes him a battler, it makes him the perfect goaltender for our organisation because that's what we are, we're a blue-collar team that goes out and works hard and earns every inch of the ice that you can get.
"Tim fits well in regards to that the way he battles ... when the game is on the line he's going to be standing on his head again because he battles through it."
Thomas's combative style and work ethic has not only made him a Boston fan favourite but a leading candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy, which goes to the Stanley Cup playoffs most valuable player.
The 37-year-old is savouring every moment on ice hockey's biggest stage having spent a large part of his career playing smaller venues.
Thomas was an afterthought when plucked from the pile of longshots in the ninth round of the 1994 draft by the Quebec Nordiques.
A battler with an acrobatic, unconventional style, Thomas never played for the Nordiques and through the early part of an unremarkable career bounced around Europe and the North American minor leagues.
It was not until 2002 after signing on as a free agent with the Bruins that he finally played his first NHL game, but he has made up for lost time by winning the Vezina in 2009 and an Olympic silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.
"Our fans are phenomenal, especially in these playoffs," said Thomas. "During the regular season, sometimes I'm not sure how much energy home crowds really add to games but I know playing at home in these playoffs has been a big advantage for us and it's helped us.
"We rewarded the fans that have stuck with us."
Boston sports fans are now debating whether Tim Thomas is more important to the Bruins than quarterback Tom Brady is to the NFL's New England Patriots.
Henrik Sedin is one Canuck who has yet to solve the puzzle of how to beat Thomas.
"I don't know, do you have an answer for me?" he joked. "When top goalies like him are getting hot it is tough to score goals."
