Tim Thomas: Boston Bruins Goalie, Conn Smythe Winner, MMA Fan

by Mike Fagan on Jun 16, 2011 1:37 PM EDT in MMA Interview

"Save by Thomas."

A refrain heard 238 times -- a Stanley Cup Final record -- as Tim Thomas led his Boston Bruins to a 4-3 series victory over the Vancouver Canucks to claim the Stanley Cup. Thomas picked up the Conn Smythe Trophy, designation him as the playoff MVP, with a .940 save percentage and a 1.98 goals against average in the playoffs. He was better in the Cup Final, posting a .967 save percentage at 1.15 goals against average in seven games against the Canucks.

But this is an MMA blog; why should you care about Thomas? As he revealed to Bloody Elbow contributor Josh Nason, Thomas is a huge fan of mixed martial arts:

"Even during the season when we play at home, I watch the fights the same night," Thomas says. "My wife hates it because I stay up too late, but I don't want to wait until Sunday because there are a lot of MMA fans on our team-including Shawn Thornton, Zdeno Chara, and Milan Lucic-and I don't want any spoilers."

That's a dedicated fan right there.

Thomas has found himself in a couple scuffles this year, as well. The first in February when he squared off in an anticlimactic jersey tugging with Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price. He then found himself tussling with Vancouver ball hockey bum Alexandre Burrows in Game 4 of the Final.

On his "fight" with Price:

"Hockey fighting is different than regular fighting. You can't throw both hands without losing your balance," Thomas jokes. "The experience was pretty surreal. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I was thinking about MMA fights.

Video of both of Thomas's fights after the jump.

Tweet Comment 47 comments | 2 recs |

Do you like this story?

Read More: mma, nhl, stanley cup, tim thomas

Comments

What a cool guy. Big fan.

by LumberJack Larry on Jun 16, 2011 1:42 PM EDT reply actions

Set the record for save percentage and most fans crying.

It's just a world, it's just a life.

by DirtyML on Jun 16, 2011 1:45 PM EDT reply actions

Just when I think he can’t get any more awesome…

Formerly ChiCubs23

by Tim Bernier on Jun 16, 2011 1:45 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs

“You can’t throw both hands without losing your balance”

Someone should tell 90% of TUF contestants.

by casey manrique on Jun 16, 2011 1:48 PM EDT reply actions

How are you going to win a fight if you aren’t knocking the fuck out of the wind around you?

leonard garcia style

It's just a world, it's just a life.

by DirtyML on Jun 16, 2011 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Windmillin’ wins decisions.

by casey manrique on Jun 16, 2011 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Even Don Quichote knows that now..

by Matthi on Jun 16, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

This gif is kinda big but...

So full of win.

Formerly ChiCubs23

by Tim Bernier on Jun 16, 2011 2:02 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs

Sedin sisters with the no show

It's just a world, it's just a life.

by DirtyML on Jun 16, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

I flew off my couch when this happened. Love Tim Tom. Anyone who smacks Burrows is A-OK in my book.

"All noble things are as difficult as they are rare."
- Baruch Spinoza

by Avap on Jun 16, 2011 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Someone should tell the Sedins that this isn’t soccer… what a flop!

by Shnak on Jun 16, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

He reminds me of the goalie in the Nintendo game Blades of Steel.

"He's like Elvis in Korea! They love him there." - Mike Goldberg on Denis Kang

by Bolshevik on Jun 17, 2011 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

These are the sad Canucks fans that sat in front of me for game 6. Nice guys but I enjoyed their misery

by SplitBreast on Jun 16, 2011 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

You should have asked them to cry in a cup for you. I hear the tears of a Canuck fan are sweeter than the sweetest nectar.

"All noble things are as difficult as they are rare."
- Baruch Spinoza

by Avap on Jun 16, 2011 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Those are some shitty looking seats.

It's just a world, it's just a life.

by DirtyML on Jun 16, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude, if I could see the ice from one of the bathrooms that would have been good enough for me. I sat in those same shitty seats for Game 7 vs Montreal, Game 7 vs Tampa Bay, and game 6 vs The Lightning.

by SplitBreast on Jun 16, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I just meant from a comfort level, they look like the kind of things I sat on in elementary school.

It's just a world, it's just a life.

by DirtyML on Jun 16, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

You are definitely right about that. Every time I leave I am so sore. Too small and incredibly uncomfortable

by SplitBreast on Jun 16, 2011 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

…Still 1000 times better than the Fenway seats.

by TMadeBurner on Jun 16, 2011 4:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Cool.

Thomas was a machine. Luongo had to make 0 mistakes in order for the Canucks to have a shot at winning Game 7. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.

by pud333 on Jun 16, 2011 2:14 PM EDT reply actions

I would not say

that Thomas was so good as Luongo was that bad. Game 6 and Game 7 Luongo let in soft goals. A goalie has to just give your team a chance to win, Luongo did not give his team a chance in game 6 or 7. Thomas played well, but he did not have to make many stellar saves down the stretch and Boston’s D played sound.

FYI i hate both teams. GO DUCKS!

its better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life

by t0dd on Jun 16, 2011 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

They only have 10 more years with Luongo, too.

It's just a world, it's just a life.

by DirtyML on Jun 16, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, last little bit Thomas didn’t have to be nuts, but Canucks did have lots of opportunities but nothing was going in. Luongo still played bad. I consider being outscored 21-3 in the last five games pretty bad.

by pud333 on Jun 16, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Punches in Bunches

Meet me on Monsta Island. Where the girls look good and the MC's be Wildin'.
Also, follow me on Twitter @DeoWade

by Damon O. on Jun 16, 2011 2:16 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Pretty much describes the series.

It's just a world, it's just a life.

by DirtyML on Jun 16, 2011 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

lol.

by pud333 on Jun 16, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions

my favorite moment from the entire series was that right there.

and I’m from Canada. No here likes the Canucks except the people that live in Vancouver. And I’m pretty sure that a lot of them don’t like the nucks either.

www.mmalinker.com

by exsanguinator on Jun 16, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

actually

the survey reported that other than in the maritimes and a bit of quebec canadians were almost completely behind the canucks

by tattlerat on Jun 16, 2011 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

well… I’m a Flames fan so that’s probably why I hate the Canucks so much.

www.mmalinker.com

by exsanguinator on Jun 16, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

You're gonna have to show me that survey

Cause I’m not in the maritimes or quebec and from what I saw, fan support was 50/50 in Toronto at best. Most canucks supporters I met were either people from BC, or women/dudes who knew nothing about hockey but jumped on the Canucks bandwagon because they heard on some clueless morning show that the canucks were “Canada’s Team.”

"Maybe, you throw some pepper at him."
-Bas Rutten

by mmazing on Jun 16, 2011 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

All of Toronto was behind the Bruins to make it to the finals

because then we get an extra second round pick from the Kaberle trade. In the final I was only cheering for some competitive games.

"Serious sport is war minus the shooting."
George Orwell

by malkav on Jun 16, 2011 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I just wanted a long entertaining series too.

The Kaberle pick is icing on the cake though. I remember when that deal was made thinking to myself, “As if the Bruins will make the finals, much less win it all.”

"Maybe, you throw some pepper at him."
-Bas Rutten

by mmazing on Jun 16, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Love it!

by 1N87 on Jun 16, 2011 2:21 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Poor SSReporters. He has to dial that Canuck Countdown Clock all the way back after being so close and has to watch Reem tap in the span of a couple of days. Hopefully he has friends and family around him to watch after him, closely.

Initiative comes to thems that wait.
I WAS WRONG ABOUT JOE!

by memitim on Jun 16, 2011 2:32 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

All the flags on the cars are gone today

It's just a world, it's just a life.

by DirtyML on Jun 16, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Your world is going to end if Reem wins

I’ve rarely have seen a post where your not hating on Alistair. Whats with the hate?

Sheeeeeeeee-it

by Clay Davis on Jun 16, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Then you’ve missed all my posts on JOE, Brock, Carwin, Diaz, and Fedor.
No hate for Reem. Just a big Werdum fan. My world won’t end if Reem wins. I have brunch the next day at one of my favorite places with friends. Their bacon is delicious. I can tell you tho if Reem taps there will be great sorrow in the land.

Initiative comes to thems that wait.
I WAS WRONG ABOUT JOE!

by memitim on Jun 16, 2011 3:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I defiantly missed your other posts about them. I swear all I’ve ever read was about the Reem so i was curious.

Big Werdum mark myself, but i think his only prayer is getting it to the ground.

Should be a good fight, also good looking card.

Sheeeeeeeee-it

by Clay Davis on Jun 16, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I’ve written 62 fan posts on everything from WMMA to why I prefer rings to cages. Only a few about the Reem.
I’m expecting some BJJ voodoo from Werdum. I want to see him bust out a flying triangle or something of the sort.

Initiative comes to thems that wait.
I WAS WRONG ABOUT JOE!

by memitim on Jun 16, 2011 3:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions